AN attack victim's gay lifestyle is being investigated by police trying to find the person who left her battered and fighting for life.

Mandy Burton, 30, of Moorgate Street, Blackburn, was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary on Sunday night with serious head injuries.

She was later transferred to the critical care unit at Royal Preston Hospital.

Her condition was today described as poorly and unstable.

Police said that Mandy is a divorced mother-of-two, whose former husband still lives in the Blackburn area.

But they confirmed that she had been leading a "vibrant gay lifestyle" and that they were investigating her relationships and social life in a bid to discover what had happened.

A spokesman added: "We will be speaking to a number of people today."

People living in the same Mill Hill street told of frequent visits by the police and of parties in the house where the attack took place.

They said Mandy shared the home with another woman, Louise Berry.

"The police were called to the house on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday last week. They were always having parties at their house," one neighbour said.

Another told of how two women shared the same house and held parties that would last into the early hours.

Some residents described a disturbance in the area on Saturday night. They said bottles were thrown in the street and shouting could be heard from inside the house.

A special incident room was set up at Blackburn police station yesterday as forensic science specialists made a search of the home.

The house was today being guarded front and rear by police officers.

An 18-year-old woman was interviewed yesterday by detectives but nobody has been charged with any offence in relation to the incident.

Police were today applying to magistrates for an extension to keep her in custody for further questioning.

A police spokesman said: "We were called to a report of a woman, Mandy Burton, who was found suffering from serious head injuries.

"Although we interviewed a woman yesterday, we still want to hear from anyone who may have seen or heard anything on Sunday, or who saw Mandy on Sunday evening.

"We would also like to speak to anyone who knows anything about Mandy's background."

Anyone with information is asked to call Blackburn Police on 01254 51212.