A PENSIONER was left in a coma after being attacked with a hammer in his own home.

Detectives said 73-year-old Donald Burton was 'seriously assaulted' when he answered the door of his house in Rossetti Avenue, Burnley.

The father-of-five had been hit on the head with the hammer.

Mr Burton was found by his wife Brenda collapsed on the floor after hearing a loud bang.

Mrs Burton called her son Steven, who lives across the road, to help care for her husband of 53 years, while she called for an ambulance.

The victim's family are now appealing for information to help catch the attacker, who they believe struck at 'random'.

Community leaders slammed the attack as 'shocking' and 'disgraceful'.

Steven, 33, said: "It was just a random attack.

"It wasn't a robbery or anything like that, whoever did it wanted to do damage to my dad, not steal his belongings.

"They struck him with a hammer to the head and then just ran off. I came over just after it had happened.

"We have no idea what happened at this stage, the police told us there could be many factors behind it.

"It was a huge shock to the whole family."

Steven said someone knocked at the door shortly after 6pm on Friday and Mr Burton went to the door to answer it.

Mrs Burton heard a loud bang and went to investigate.

She found her husband lying on the floor.

Steven said: "My mum is very upset and shaken up by it all, it is scary to think about.

"My dad just lives a quiet life.

"He's never had any problems around here before.

"We just had no idea who could have done something like this."

The grandfather-of-13 was taken to the Royal Preston Hospital where doctors put him into an induced coma.

His family remained at his bedside over the weekend.

Last night police described his condition as 'serious but stable'.

Crime scene investigators were at the scene over the weekend searching for clues about the attacker.

Steven said: "We just want to appeal for people to come forward who might know anything.

"Anyone with any information at all please contact the police.

"We just want to find out what happened and bring them to justice."

Neighbours said the incidents like this were 'unheard of' in Rosehill.

George Hawke said: "I've never heard of anything like this happening around here before.

"This is normally just a kids area, there are lots of families living on this street.

"It is disgusting something like this has happened."

Fellow resident Sandra McDonald said: "It is almost always a nice quiet little area.

"Everyone just keeps themselves to themselves.

"To hear about something like this going on, it is scary."

Another neighbour said: "I'm in shock.

"You just can't imagine why a person would want to do something like that to another human."

Cllr Jeff Sumner, who represents the area on Burnley Council, said: "It is a disgrace things are happening to vulnerable old people.

"In Rosehill you don't really see many problems.

"These sort of assaults are unheard of in this area.

"I hope the police find the culprit and the victim makes a full recovery."

Cllr Mark Townsend, Burnley Council leader, said: "It is a shocking incident.

"We need to get the attacker off the streets as soon as possible.

"I hope the elderly gentleman recovers as soon as possible and there is no lasting damage."

Police urged anyone with information to come forward.

Detective Inspector Neil Marr said: “This assault has left an elderly man with a very serious injury and I would appeal to anyone who saw anything suspicious yesterday evening, or in the lead up to this incident, to get in touch.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting log number 1192 of December 1.