A pensioner who was attacked on her doorstep today thanked police and hospital staff for the "fantastic" way they treated her.

Mary Burton, 77, said staff at York Hospital's Accident & Emergency department were kind and gentle as they treated her for a head wound.

She said detectives were patient and sympathetic as they waited for her to give them a clear account of what had happened.

Mrs Burton, of Horsman Avenue, off Cemetery Road, York, needed 21 stitches to her head after last month's attack by a teenager, who escaped with £20.

The robber is still at large, despite a poster campaign launched by the Evening Press to help police trace the thug.

Police say he is a fair-haired teenager who wore glasses. He is about 5ft 4ins, of slim build with a thin face. He was clean shaven and spoke with a local accent.

Mrs Burton, a former pub and post office worker, said the painful headaches she suffered after the attack were now much less frequent and severe, and it no longer hurt where the stitches had been inserted.

However, she still had quite bad bruising on her feet, which was caused when she was thrown to the ground.

"I really want to thank the A&E, and the police," she said. "They were lovely.

"They were so kind and gentle. The nurse who gave me my stitches was so careful.

"The police were fantastic. They gave me time to get my thoughts together, acting as if they had plenty of time even though I'm sure they didn't."

She also praised the RAF Association in Aldwark, which had sent her lots of messages of support and a "lovely bunch of flowers."

She thanked neighbours for helping her out, and strangers who had come up to her in the street to wish her well.

Detective Constable Ian Murray, who is leading the investigation into the robbery, has urged anyone with information to phone York Police on 0845 60 60 24 7, or Crimestoppers, for free and in confidence, on 0800 555 111.

Updated: 10:18 Tuesday, November 22, 2005