Detectives are hunting a cowardly attacker who hurled a slab of concrete paving through the window of a York home - narrowly missing a six-week-old baby.

Family members watched in horror as tiny Milly Penrose was showered in shards of glass as she slept in her cot at their home in Etty Avenue, Tang Hall.

Grandmother Debra, 38, said the small football-sized lump of concrete missed the baby by inches, leaving a deep gouge in the wooden floor.

Mother Donna, 17, has since moved the baby and her one-year-old sister, Holly, who was asleep upstairs, to the homes of relatives because she fears further attacks could put their lives at risk again.

PC Tony Santorsola, of York Police, said it was "pure luck" that Milly was uninjured. He said: "If people are going to do a cowardly act like this they should take a look at what could have happened."

Debra, who has lived in the street for more than 20 years, said: "If it had hit her on the head it would have killed her. Donna was really upset.

"At first I didn't think I was too affected, but when I got back inside I couldn't stop shaking.

"I'm not frightened but I'm worried what might happen to the children. The nights are just awful, but there are a lot of people watching out for us."

The shocking attack occurred without any warning last Friday night, as Donna and Debra watched TV at about 10.30pm.

The concrete was thrown from the street through their living room double-glazed window with such force that it bounced up to the sofa several feet away.

Debra said sharp splinters of glass were left in the baby's hair and that Donna rushed outside to see a man aged in his 40s, dressed all in black, walk away towards Constantine Avenue via a nearby snicket.

She believes the attack may have taken place in response to a recent incident involving her 21-year-old son, Shaun, who no longer lives with the family.

PC Santorsola said officers would like to speak to anyone who was in the Etty Avenue area at that time, or who may have seen the man leaving the address.

Anyone with information should phone York Police on 01904 631321 or Crimestoppers, in confidence, on 0800 555 111.

Updated: 10:35 Tuesday, March 09, 2004