DETECTIVES are hunting knife-wielding robbers who tied up a Gwent householder as he slept in his home, put a hood over his head and robbed him of items worth £100,000.

The items stolen from the house in Llanbadoc, Usk, yesterday morning - including a Rolex watch, a specially made ring and a Samsung mobile phone connected to the Orange network - are believed to be worth £100,000.

The terrified house owner, Jason Gundy, 33, pictured, who lives in the distinctive, black and white painted property with another man, Christopher Hill, was in bed when the attack took place at about 8.20am. Mr Hill had already left for work.

Superintendent Jon Burley, who is leading the investigation, said at least three men are believed to have entered the house.

He said: "The householder was covered by a quilt first of all, and then hooded with what may have been a pillow case and tied up with washing-line.

"He was taken downstairs. They demanded to be shown the safe and for him to open it, with a sharp object pressed in his back. We believe it was a knife."

A kitchen knife was later recovered from the scene.

Supt Burley added: "He was told to keep his face and head down - because he was hooded he only had the chance to see one person and that person was shielded by a baseball cap."

That person is described as having a tanned appearance.

After they left, Mr Gundy managed to untie his hands, using his teeth, and contacted a friend before raising the alarm with the police.

Supt Burlety added: "He wasn't actually injured in the assault, but is extremely distressed by it all. This was a particularly upsetting attack for the occupier."

In 2000, we featured Mr Gundy's house, then worth £500,000, after he repainted it with dalmatian spots following the film 101 Dalmatians.

Mr Gundy, who drives a navy blue car with big pink spots, is well known in the village. He is now staying with relatives.

Manager of the nearby Usk Garden Centre, Tom Morris, said: "Jason and Christopher are regular customers. I'm surprised that someone could just walk into the house and rob it while Jason was in there."

Scenes-of-crime and forensics officers are trying to establish how the men got into the house, and a search is taking place of the grounds.

Anyone who saw anyone acting suspiciously, or strange vehicles in the area, is asked to call Gwent Police headquarters on 01633 838111 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.