Detectives were today hunting an attacker after a 53-year-old man was stabbed in the throat on his doorstep.

Police and forensic teams were carrying out searches and door to door inquires in Wagon Lane after the incident, just yards away from the Bradford and Bingley Rugby Football Club, where a function was held on Saturday night.

The attack on the otherwise peaceful street, populated with many elderly residents, happened at 10.15pm on Saturday when the victim noticed someone in his garden when his sensor light went on.

When he approached the man in his garden, he apologised for disturbing the householder and his wife and said he was looking for something lost by his brother.

The householder lent him a torch and told him to leave it outside the house when he went.

But just ten minutes later, the door was knocked on again and when the victim opened it he was stabbed in the throat on his doorstep.

The victim was in a stable condition in Bradford Royal Infirmary last night.

Det Insp Richard Partis said: “This incident took place very close to the Bradford and Bingley Rugby Football Club where a function was being held on Saturday night and I would appeal to anyone in the area who saw anything suspicious or saw anyone matching the description to get in touch.”

Neighbours to the property did not want to comment on who the occupants of the house were and had limited knowledge on what had actually happened on Saturday.

The garden of the property was combed by a crime scene investigation team throughout yesterday with officers in white suits looking throughout the front garden and surrounding hedges. The type of weapon used to attack the man has not been revealed and it is not known whether it has been found.

The front of the house was blocked off with police tape and guarded by an officer yesterday. Staff members at the rugby club said they didn’t know anything about the occupants of the house.

A neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “We have been visited by the police who asked us if we had any information and they told us there had been a serious assault, but we don’t know any more.”

The attacker is described as well spoken, white, 20 years old, 6ft tall, and medium build with short hair and a “geeky” demeanour He was wearing a dinstinctive brown Fair Isle jumper with zig zags on.

It is not known if the victim and his attacker were known to one another.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Bradford & Airedale CID on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.