A WOMAN today spoke about her fear that a crazed attacker called at her door moments before he attacked and robbed a frail pensioner and left her in a pool of her own blood.

Carol Flower, 63, said a mystery man banged at the window of her home in Horsman Avenue, York, on the same night that one of her neighbours was brutally attacked on her doorstep.

He claimed to be collecting money for a sponsored wheelchair push, but she refused to answer the door and he went away.

Pensioner Mrs Flower, who suffers from osteoporosis, said: "I had a bad gut feeling. I heard his voice, but I didn't see him and didn't see him go.

"I called the warden and said someone was prowling around. I just didn't feel right about it. In the end I rang the police and a few minutes later they were around."

Mrs Flower then found out that her neighbour Mary Burton, 77, had been robbed in her home in a frenzied attack. Mrs Burton is recovering at home after receiving 21 stitches to a scalp wound.

Mrs Flower said: "I feel gutted.

I think it's dreadful what has happened. No one in their right mind could do anything like that."

Detective Constable Ian Murray, who is investigating the robbery, said officers believe the suspect, a fair haired teenager who wore glasses, may have called on a number of doors before the attack.

Police have issued an e-fit of the attacker which they hope will jog the memory of people who live in the area.

Resident Avril Ellwood, 53, who has lived in the bungalows since April, said she and many other residents were "nervous" after the attack.

She said a sneak thief, a young woman, had stolen her benefit money after talking her way into her home with a bogus story two weeks ago.

Ms Ellwood said: "People are very nervous and are being extremely nervous about who they answer the door to. The police think the attacker could have knocked on up to five doors that night."

Speaking about residents' fears, Det Con Murray said: "We have conducted house-to-house inquiries in the whole area. Hopefully this is a one-off. Patrols have been made aware of what's happened.

"There's nothing to indicate that it's likely to reoccur. The crime figures how that this is an area that enjoys relatively low crime."

Updated: 09:54 Friday, October 28, 2005