Britons prepared to copy Tony Martin

Householders are prepared to defend their homes like Tony Martin

Hundreds of householders would be prepared to follow in the footsteps of Norfolk farmer Tony Martin to defend their homes.

A new survey revealed on Wednesday that 82% of Britons questioned would be prepared to "take the law into their own hands" to protect their family and property if they were being burgled.

Nine in 10 people also believed it is more important to keep their family safe by physically tackling intruders than worrying about the consequences, the British Gas survey of 523 householders found.

Only one person in 20 said they had done anything to improve their home security - most people had said they relied on being able to battle intruders.

Biggest worry

The British Gas study found burglary was the biggest single worry for 61% of Britons with two in five admitting that fear of being burgled while away from home marred their holiday.

Helen Connaughton, home security specialist at the company, said: "Security plans appear to be based on putting your fists up instead of putting your hands in your pocket."

In addition the survey found three out of four people thought the Tony Martin break-in and a raid at Cilla Black's Buckinghamshire home should act as reminders to tighten security.

Mr Martin, 58, of Emneth Hungate, Norfolk, was jailed for five years after shooting dead 16-year-old Fred Barras in August 1999 after the teenager and Brendan Fearon, 33, had broken into his farm house.

And in August masked raiders held a knife to the throat of Cilla Black's youngest son and escaped with more than £1m in jewellery and cash.