THE daughters of a York pensioner, beaten senseless and left for dead by an intruder, have branded the attacker a "sick animal".

Widower Edwin Hopper, 71, has been left unrecognisable by the repeated blows to his head and face he suffered during the attack in his home of 32 years on Monday night.

Detective Sergeant Steve Maud, of York Police, said: "We believe Mr Hopper was the victim of an assault in his own home and the inquiry is being run along those lines.

"We are appealing for any member of the public who has any information at all about this incident to come forward."

Detectives said the pensioner's condition is so grave that the police photographer has not even been allowed into the intensive care ward at York District Hospital to record his injuries.

Mr Hopper, a father-of-five who has 18 grandchildren, was discovered at the bottom of his stairs in Middleton Road, Acomb, after neighbours were alerted by loud banging at about 10.30pm.

Two of his daughters, Denise Kelly and Lynn Audin, who were called to the house within minutes, feared the worst when they were held back from the horror of the scene by police officers.

Denise, 38, of Windsor Garth, Acomb, said: "The message I got was come over, it's your dad, it's urgent. At first we thought he had fallen down the stairs, but the window had been smashed at the back.

"There were police cars, police vans, ambulances - I just panicked and called Lynn." The family's fears heightened when they were unable to see him at the hospital until the next day.

Lynn, 41, of St Stephen's Road, Acomb, said: "Going home that night not having seen him was absolutely horrific. When we actually got to see him I imagined he would have a gash on his head and his face would be the same.

"But when we walked in his face was like a medicine ball, his lips looked like giant pieces of watermelon, his face was just out here, and all purple and red.

"We were all just totally stunned, and then we all broke down."

Mr Hopper, who was still struggling to overcome the death of his wife, Dot, three years ago, suffered multiple fractures to his face, including injuries to his jaw, eye and palate. Lynn said he had to have a tracheotomy to help him breathe and he was given several stitches.

His condition today was described as critical and it is still not known if he suffered brain damage or a spinal injury in the attack.

Lynn said: "Whoever did this is either mentally deranged or they are just sick - there's no other word for it if they could do that to an old man."

Det Sgt Maud said Mr Hopper's injuries were so serious that they had not yet been able to speak to him, although they hoped to do that as soon as possible.

Anyone with any information about the incident should call York Police on 01904 631321.

Updated: 11:15 Thursday, November 15, 2001