A TERRIFIED York family say they are being persecuted after another attack on their home.

The Coates family, of Greenshaw Drive, Haxby, were in bed last night when someone tossed a full bottle of beer through their lounge window.

Mother-of-two Dianne, 57, said it was the latest in a long line of incidents they have suffered over the last five years.

"We don't know why we're being targeted," she said.

"We're scared to go out because we don't what we will come back to."

Incidents have included:

In 1998 the Evening Press reported how the family listened as a group of 20 teenagers attacked their fence with a 4ft-long pick axe and then turned on the house

A teenager threw a milk carton at Dianne as she walked home in broad daylight

An industrial fire extinguisher was thrown on their shed roof

Eggs are regularly thrown at the lounge window.

Dianne said she reported last night's bottle incident to the police immediately - but she had still not been visited nine hours later.

"My daughter heard an almighty bang," she said.

"She just stayed in her room and shook.

"We just couldn't believe it - there is a huge hole in the window.

"The main problem is that we live next to a dark snicket. The culprits can just disappear."

Dianne said she had "no idea" why her family was being victimised.

"We don't know who is doing this but we feel persecuted," she said.

"A lot of it must be down to the snicket. I've been sat up all night waiting for the police, but nobody has come.

"We're beginning to live in fear."

Inspector David Porter, York Police, said: "Our response to the incident would depend on what was said to us at the time.

"There is nothing on the incident report to suggest there is a pattern to this or that it has happened before.

"Obviously we will be investigating it and I'm willing to send someone round to the house."

Updated: 12:50 Saturday, June 21, 2003