A GOOD Samaritan was slashed across the face in a vicious attack as he went to investigate screams from a pensioner's home.

Sean Brazendale was cut across the throat -- narrowly missing his jugular vain -- as the knifeman fled after breaking into an elderly woman's home.

Today Mr Brazendale, aged 30, was recovering in a specialist facial injuries unit in a Blackburn hospital. A police hunt was today under for the knifeman. The incident happened shortly before 6pm last night as Mr Brazendale was walking home from a local shop. As he was walking along Church Street, Ainsworth, he heard screams from a nearby house. He went to investigate and was then confronted by the knifeman who lashed out when Mr Brazendale tried to tackle him.

Police last night sealed off a section of Church Street, Ainsworth, following the bungled burglary shortly before 6pm. Mr Brazendale stepped in to help after hearing the burglar alarm and screams coming from the home of Mrs Marion Chambers, aged 82.

The burglars had been disturbed by the pensioner as they ransacked her home. She pressed a panic button which activated the burglar alarm.

As the three men escaped from the scene, one of them attacked Mr Brazendale on the street with a blade, possibly a craft-style knife.

Mr Brazendale, of Kingsley Street, Elton, Bury, suffered a six-inch wound to his face.

He was was rushed to Blackburn Royal Infirmary, which specialises in treating severe facial injuries.

He was in a "comfortable condition" in hospital this lunchtime.

Mrs Chambers was not injured during the incident.

Forensic experts were last night combing the area for clues and were due to resume their search this morning.

A fire crew from Bolton north station erected a temporary cover over the area to protect the Crime scene from heavy rain.

Police say that around £300 in cash and a metal box, containing sentimental belongings, were taken. Mrs Chambers was said to be distressed but uninjured.

One witness has told police the three men were smartly dressed and looked simialr to door to door salesmen.

Insp Karen Pinder, of Bury Police, said: "Mr Brazendale has suffered a non-life threatening injury but it is severe and he made need plastic surgery.

"We are looking for two white men, both in their early 20s, one of whom was wearing a fleece top."

She added that they were keen to receive information about a grey Peugeot in which the men could have escaped. It was parked in Stone Delph Close and has a registration number beginning with either J or K and including either 656 or 565.

DC Chris Jameson said: "This was an horrific attack. It appears that the man just lashed out with the knife. The cut went from below the ear towards the mouth. A couple of centimetres lower and his jugular could have been cut."

Relatives stayed with Mrs Chambers through the night. She was too upset to speak today.

Anyone who can help is asked to contact Whitefield CID on 0161 856 8248 or Crimestoppers on free phone 0800 555 111.