The victim of a savage beating by two men now serving five years in jail has told how he owes his life to his neighbour.

Haworth grocer Michael Snowden was so badly beaten he was off work for five months, suffered a collapsed lung, thrombosis in a leg, lost his sense of smell and needed part of his right ear stitching back on.

But he reckons he is lucky to be alive, thanks to a woman he has known for 58 years.

Anne Law, who runs Firth's women's clothing shop in Main Street, Haworth, overheard Mr Snowden's cries and the sound of the two men thumping and kicking him.

"I shouted through my window and when they didn't hear, I tried to get him on the telephone. I was in a real panic and very frightened. I think I must have disturbed them," said Mrs Law, 61, who like Mr Snowden lives in a flat above her shop in Main Street.

"Without doubt, if I hadn't done what I did, I think Michael could have died."

"She saved my life," said Mr Snowden, 60, who owns the shop where he has worked since he was 15.

"I was beaten unconscious and I think I would have died if Anne hadn't disturbed them."

He was in bed when he heard the men inside the flat. He went into the other bedroom and they followed him, demanding to know the whereabouts of his safe.

"They started hitting hell out of me and dragged me into the other room. I hit my head on the wardrobe," said Mr Snowden.

"It was then that Anne heard all the noises. I was unconscious and don't remember much more, but the police were here quickly."

Mr Snowden said he still felt nervous about walking to the rear of his shop to reach his flat at night.

"If I want to go out to the pub, rather than go outside and round, I put the light on and walk through the shop," he said.

Doorman Robert Wilson, 35, of Albion Street, Cross Roads, and Anthony Duncan, 28, of Carperley Crescent, Denholme, broke into Mr Snowden's flat above his shop in November 2000, as he was in bed.

A jury at Bradford Crown Court last Thursday found them both guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. They were both jailed for five years.

Recorder Paul Watson said the attack was committed with a savagery which almost defied belief.