A SLEEPING woman was injured in a terrifying late night attack when three bricks were hurled through her lounge window.

Now Mrs Elsie Gill is so afraid of another attack that she sleeps during the day and refuses to stay alone at her home in Ainsworth Road, Radcliffe.

She says that if her hand had not been over her head when the bricks shattered the window, she believes she could have been killed.

Police are investigating the attack at 12.30am last Thursday. Mrs Gill is unaware of whether her house was targeted or chosen at random.

She said: "I was sleeping on the settee, near the window, when three bricks came through. I sustained a gash to the side of my head which required four staples. Plus, I had a lump on my head and some bruising.

"When I had been asleep, I had one hand which was resting on my head. If I hadn't, I think I could have been killed."

Mrs Gill, who will be 62 on Saturday, screamed in terror, alerting her husband, Michael, who was asleep upstairs. She was taken by ambulance to Fairfield Hospital for treatment.

She added: "I just don't know why this happened. We've lived here for ten years without any trouble. I'm assuming it was done for a reason, unless it was mistaken identity".

The attack has left Mrs Gill very frightened.

"I can't be in the house on my own any more," she said. "And I'm finding it almost impossible to sleep there at night. I've taken to sleeping during the day because of what has happened. When it gets dark I'm always watching to see what is going on outside."

Witnesses say two youths were seen running away shortly after the incident.

Anyone with information about the attack should ring Whitefield CID on 856 8248 or freephone CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.