A COUPLE from York have told how they had a near-miss with the murderer after Hobson came calling while they were out.

Paul and Mary Moore had gone away for the weekend when Mark Hobson unsuccessfully attempted to break into their home in New Lane, Huntington.

Hours earlier, he had murdered Diane Sanderson at her sister's flat in Camblesforth, near Selby, before being driven to York Hospital by his duped mother.

Hours later, he got into James and Joan Britton's home at Strensall and murdered both of the frail pensioners.

Mr Moore, 56, told today what happened when the killer called at his home after apparently walking there from the hospital.

He said: "He tried to get into the bathroom. We came home and saw some of the rubber gasketing on the edge of the window was hanging down.

"We went outside and saw that the rubber had been taken completely off, and the glass could be moved inside its frame. We could see some rubbish on the driveway that had come from the rubbish bin, as if someone had been rummaging around, and there was also a beer or lager can that wasn't ours.

"We also found a cigarette butt under the bathroom window that was fresh, which we picked up, and we called the police. We did not own anything that would make us a target for a burglar.

"At that stage, we had heard about the murders, but had no idea there was any connection to the break-in.

"A scenes of crime woman came and did some tests on the cigarette. It then emerged the crimes were connected.

"The police brought a bloodhound from Wales to try to track his footsteps. They stopped the traffic to let it follow the scent."

"We were very shaken up - Mary especially - thinking about what could have happened if we had been here that weekend."

He said Mary, 63, was a light sleeper and could have heard something and got up.

"Or he could have got in and stayed inside until we got home and found him here. We were very fortunate.

"But we are desperately sorry for what happened to the Brittons."

Updated: 13:52 Tuesday, April 19, 2005