Police carry out a finger-tip search today in Beech Grove, Acomb, after the knife attack.

A householder was stabbed in the chest and stomach as he attempted to fend off a burglar in his home.

The man received defensive injuries to his arm, a wound to the left side of his chest and a punching stab wound to his stomach when he challenged the raider.

He was described as ill but stable in York District Hospital.

His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening but he was still too ill to talk to police about his ordeal today.

The incident happened in Beech Grove, Acomb, an hour after fishing tackle was stolen from the garage of a next-door property.

Acting Detective Inspector Steve Maud, of North Yorkshire Police, said it was believed the victim had confronted the man in connection with the earlier burglary.

He said: "We will not know more until we have interviewed the victim and at the moment he is heavily sedated."

After the confrontation with the victim, the raider fled in the direction of Carr Lane, Acomb. Residents of Beech Grove today expressed their shock at what had happened to their neighbour.

Joanna Sawyer, 24, who lives next door to the stabbed man, said that she and her family had been watching television around the time of the attack at 10pm last night and had turned down the volume when they heard shouting from next door. Joanna said: "It just sounded like a girl's voice but when we turned the television off it sounded like a girl being tickled; she just sounded like she was laughing and saying 'Get off'.

"At 10.30pm my parents came back and told us there were loads of police vans in the road and police were looking around with torches.

"It's awful to think it can happen here."

A police task force team was today in the street carrying out a search of the area.

PC John Rushton said: "We are searching in connection with the stabbing."

Other neighbours today also said they were stunned by what had happened.

One, who did not wish to be named, said: "He's a smashing lad. He'll do anything for anybody.

"It's so sad and you never think it will happen in your own grove."

A man was this afternoon in custody in connection with the incident which is currently being treated as a serious assault.

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