A good Samaritan who was beaten and robbed at his home was today fighting for his life in a Bradford hospital.

The 41-year-old, whose name has not been released by police, was today in a critical condition at Bradford Royal Infirmary after the attack in Rochester Street, Windhill, Shipley.

It is believed he was attacked while walking back to his flat alone in the early hours of New Year's Day, after spending the evening with friends.

The robbers escaped with cash before the man returned to his flat.

He was admitted to Bradford Royal Infirmary later that day but his condition deteriorated sharply and he was moved into intensive care.

A spokesman for the hospital said his condition was "poorly but stable".

Today, a close friend of the victim, who did not wish to be named, described her feelings after she heard of the attack.

She described the man as a 'lionheart' and said he was well known and loved in the Windhill area, where he has lived for the past 16 years.

"I am just absolutely gutted," she said today. "It is incomprehensible that this could happen to someone like him - he is an absolute gentleman.

"I am just devastated by this. I can't imagine what life would be like without seeing him round.

"He wouldn't harm a fly and he has a heart of gold," she said.

"He has lived on Rochester Street for 16 years and it is as though he lives with everybody. He has never, ever been in any trouble and would do anything for anybody."

She said the victim has two brothers and two sisters and is well-known around Shipley and Ilkley, where some of his family live.

"He looks after all the old people round here, he will run round and go and get newspapers for them - that is the kind of person he is," she said.

Another friend of the man, who lives in the same block of flats, said it was "terrible news".

"He was my neighbour upstairs and he used to come round every day for the paper," he said.

"What can I say about him? He was just a good man, who never caused any trouble for anybody. He is unemployed at the moment but a lot of people know him because he used to help everyone out all the time."

A police spokesman described the incident as a "serious assault and robbery".

A 30-year-old woman was yesterday arrested by Keighley Police, who are also attempting to trace a further man in connection with the incident.