An angry mum today told how she was left to walk home barefoot after being "car-jacked", because police refused to turn out to the scene.

Elaine Parker, of Thornbury, said she and her boyfriend were left stranded by the roadside after thugs smashed a window of their Vauxhall Corsa and then sped away in the car.

Miss Parker said that when the couple telephoned 999 they were horrified to discover officers would not come out to the scene. The 50-year-old said: "They wouldn't come there but said they would try to get someone out to us at home later. They didn't give us a reason why."

She said: "We were in a really bad state. All of our money, my mobile phone and even my shoes were in the car."

With no other means of transport, she and her partner, Gary Mather, pictured with her, made the 20-minute walk home and waited for police officers to arrive.

"As it turned out, they didn't come until 2pm the next day," said the shop assistant.

"Even then, they just took a statement and I haven't heard anything from them since."

Today police defended the decision not to attend, saying by the time they were alerted it was felt that any immediate danger to the couple had passed.

A spokesman said: "This appears to have been an awful incident and we are appealing for witnesses. Unfortunately, it took the caller some 20 minutes to contact us.

"We broadcast details of the stolen car to all units and, in fact, half an hour after the incident officers were involved in a short pursuit of the vehicle but it got away. We visited Miss Parker the following morning and took a full report of the incident."

Miss Parker said the attack occurred as the pair returned to Bradford from a day out in Scarborough. At about 11.30pm the pair drove to the McDonald's restaurant in Thornbury but found it was closed.

"As we pulled back on to Leeds Road five Asian youths walked in front of the car and gave us a dirty look."

When Mr Mather began to drive away, the gang struck the back of their car.

"I asked Gary to turn around so I could speak to them. I thought, 'You are not getting away with that'," said Miss Parker.

As they spotted the group, who had walked down a side street, one of them hurled a missile through the passenger window, showering Miss Parker in broken glass.

"It was absolutely terrifying. It all happened in a flash. Gary had jumped out and was chasing them and I got out to follow because I was worried about him. One of the gang must have got away from the rest and jumped in and drove off."

Choking back tears, she said: "I think I have been treated awfully by the police - like a piece of rubbish. Does someone have to die before they will come out to you? I was standing there abandoned in a state of shock without any money or a phone to contact someone.

"I could have been stabbed or anything but it seems they just don't care."

She said officers had recorded the attack as theft and criminal damage rather than a robbery.

She added: "This was a car-jacking plain and simple. If they would have come to the scene I am sure they could have caught the gang."

Police have appealed for information about the incident on Sunday, July 20, or the outstanding car, a white Vauxhall Corsa registration N571 AHN. Ring Bradford North CID on (01274) 376259.