Detectives are waiting at the hospital bedside of a Bradford woman who was critically injured in a vicious attack at her home.

The 43-year-old woman was discovered with severe facial injuries in her third-floor flat at Gerard House, Fairhaven Green, Thorpe Edge, on Sunday evening.

She is in intensive care at Leeds General Infirmary. Her condition is described as critical but stable and is being medically sedated.

Police were alerted just before 7pm on Sunday and are waiting to speak with the victim to establish exactly what happened.

A 52-year-old man was later arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm. He is now detained in Airedale General Hospital. His condition is stable and officers are also waiting to interview him.

Forensic experts were examining the flat today and house-to-house inquiries were taking place in the area.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Snow, of West Yorkshire Police, who is leading the investigation, said: “There was a serious assault in the flat. We don’t know if any weapons have been used, but the victim has sustained severe facial injuries.

“We have someone at the hospital waiting to speak to her, which we hope to do tomorrow.

“A suspect, who was arrested from his car in Keighley, is also in hospital. We hope to interview him too tomorrow.”

Det Chief Insp Snow said inquiries were taking place in a bid to trace any potential witnesses and it was hoped that forensic examinations would help to determine what had happened inside the flat.

A solitary police community support officer was today standing outside the battered doorway of the flat which police had rammed to gain entry.

Forensic officers were carrying boxes in and out of the property and sealed bags were piled up by the door.

Residents said they had heard police forcing their way in and one neighbour said she had heard a woman, believed to be the victim, shouting earlier in the evening “on the verge of screaming”.

Marjorie Clapham, 80, who lives directly above, went to peer over the balcony after hearing loud bangs.

“Some kids had been kicking a ball against the wall earlier and I thought it was just them, but then the bangs got really loud. When it got really noisy, I went outside and saw the police – I knew it had to be something bad.”

Neighbours said the woman, believed to have a son in his 20s, had only moved into the block about six months earlier and her husband had moved out shortly afterwards.

Mrs Clapham said she had since seen the woman with another man. “He seemed a nice enough chap. She was alright as well, a bit quiet but would speak if we saw each other.”