A terrified 84-year-old today told how thieves smashed into his Bradford home, showering him with glass and then threw a knife at him as he bravely tried to stop them snatching his car.

The man - who is now too afraid to be identified - said he had been left frightened in his home after the raid when the attackers hurled bricks through the window and snatched the car keys to his R-registered Ford Mondeo as he tried to clear the glass from his eyes.

Undeterred he chased them down the street, but gave up when the young thieves turned and threw a nine-inch knife at him which just missed his head.

Today detectives revealed they had made a breakthrough in their attempts to catch thieves targeting keys when they recovered a high powered car from Manningham stolen in Pudsey and swooped to arrested 11 men in Bradford and Keighley in connection with similar crimes.

The pensioner's dark metallic green Mondeo was recovered yesterday and is undergoing forensic tests, but he has been left suffering sleepless nights since the attack.

"I was in my house reading my Telegraph & Argus at 7.15pm with the curtains half drawn when two stones came through my double glazing," the man said. "The large one hit me on the shoulder and showered me with glass and the small one hit the budgie cage which finished up on the floor.

"When I got the glass out of my eyes I looked up and there was a youth who grabbed the tray with the car keys on, pulled it towards him and ran off."

The pensioner ran after the two Asian youths who got into his car but pulled back after they turned to confront him.

"I thought he turned towards me to make a rude gesture but I saw something come past my side and detectives found he had thrown a nine-inch dagger knife at me."

Anyone who saw the car, registration number R708 EWU, or has information about the attack last Saturday should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Meanwhile, a woman motorist from Keighley told today how she feared for her life when a car-jacker struck.

The 47-year-old woman said she was left shaking when the attacker tried to break into her saloon car and chased after her. But the female driver managed to speed off, losing her attacker in a nearby housing estate.

And she is warning other motorists to keep their car doors locked to keep criminals at bay.

The attempted car-jacking happened in Hospital Road, Riddlesden, on Tuesday between 7pm and 7.15pm. The woman said: "I noticed a small white car whizz past me and turn around.

"I was waiting for it to come past me, but instead it screeched to a halt next to me and the driver flung open his door. His face was only inches away and he was screaming at me to get out of the car, grabbing hold of the door handle and brandishing a screwdriver.

"I started blasting my horn in the hope that someone would ring the police while thinking what to do next. I managed to see a small gap and roared off. They followed me, but I managed to lose them."

Detective Chief Inspector Roger Gasson, of Keighley CID, said: "We are looking for witnesses and we are also warning that if this does happen to you, do exactly as this lady did.

"Make sure your doors are locked, sound your horn, if you have a mobile phone, call the police, and drive away as fast as you can to get assistance."

The suspect was driving a small white boxy-style hatchback, possibly an old model Nissan Micra. Anyone with information should contact Keighley CID on (01535) 617083.

It follows the strike on a Honda CRX, revealed in later editions of yesterday's T&A, in which a 54-year-old man had his car stolen at gunpoint along Toftshaw Lane, off Shetcliffe Lane, in Bierley - thought to be the first strike of its kind in the district.