A "cowardly" gang burst into a house and punched an elderly blind woman in the face - because they had been asked to be quiet.

Minutes after fleeing the property - in Fell Lane, Keighley - the laughing yobs returned and hurled a chimney pot through the lounge window, narrowly missing the same woman.

In the incident her son, 50-year-old machinist Kevin Garside, was repeatedly punched in the face, robbed and dragged out of his home while fighting desperately to defend his mother - 71-year-old Joyce.

Describing the thugs who attacked him, he said: "They're not human. They're the lowest of the low." He said eight youths - including two girls - were hanging around and drinking next to his garden wall at about a quarter to two on Saturday morning.

When he opened his front door and started speaking to them to persuade them to move on, he was assaulted.

He said: "I saw one of the lads and said: excuse me, but do you mind getting off the wall because it's not very safe'. But he immediately started saying what's your problem?', burst through the front gate and started smacking me in the face before I could get the door closed."

Four of the youths forced their way into his house, continually beating him as they did so. Mrs Garside has been unable to see since January following a cataract operation.

She hopes some sight may be restored when she has a further operation. She managed to crawl to the lounge door where her son tried to shield her.

But she was punched on the chin and knocked to the floor. One of the gang wrenched a heavy ornamental thermometer off a wall and flung it at her.

Mr Garside was dragged outside by the youths who continued to attack him and even grabbed his mobile phone from his pocket.

"I could hardly see anything - I was on the verge of passing out," he said. "Two of the lasses were bawling at the lads to stop and saying he's had enough'. All I could think of was how I could get back to help my mother."

The youths stole £15 in cash from the lounge and fled, 15 minutes after launching their attack.

But as Mr Garside began ringing the police, a heavy chimney pot - used as a plant holder in his garden - was thrown through the lounge window by two of the youths. It landed on the spot where his mother had been lying moments before.

Mrs Garside, a former mill worker, said those responsible for invading her home deserved to be locked up for good. "They were vicious. They're too dangerous to be on the streets," she added.

Det Con Gareth Hamer, of Keighley CID, said: "This was an absolutely appalling and cowardly attack on a defenceless man and his mother.

"I would ask anybody with information about the offenders to get in touch and I am particularly appealing for the girls to come forward."

He said the Garsides were both taken to hospital and treated for cuts and bruises. He added once the attackers had left the scene, they ran off down Holme Mill Lane towards the Cat Steps. Det Con Hamer stressed the two girls who were with the group took no part in the assault and were trying to persuade the culprits to stop. One of the girls was aged 14-15 and had blonde hair.

l The main suspects are all white males. The first is aged 18-19, about 5ft 6in to 5ft 8in tall, slim with short ginger hair. He was wearing combat-style trousers and a dark coloured top.

The second suspect is aged 19-20, 5ft 9in, skinny with short dark hair combed forward. He was wearing a black tracksuit top and bottoms. The third is aged 14-15, 5ft 5in and skinny and wearing a black zip-up fleece.

Anyone who can help can contact Det Con Hamer on 0845 6060606.