A pensioner attacked with a plank of wood as he worked on his allotment has told how he feared for his life.

Stephen Perkins, 70, was beaten over the head with a 4ft piece of wood by a man who had crept up behind him as he was sawing wood.

Mr Perkins, who has worked on his Oxford allotment for 10 years, fell to the floor concussed. The attacker demanded he hand over keys to his van.

He then struck the pensioner on his left shoulder and his legs with the wood, breaking Mr Perkins's collar bone and leaving him with painful bruising.

Mr Perkins, of Wood Farm, said: "I thought 'much more of this and I'm not going to survive'. I feel lucky to have escaped more serious injury. I was very lucky he didn't fracture my skull as the cut went down to the bone."

As reported in the late edition of Tuesday's Oxford Mail, the attack happened just after 2pm on Monday (March 22) at Barton Field Allotments, off Barton Village Road.

Mr Perkins threw the van keys towards his attacker, who made off in his Ford Fiesta van, worth about £1,100. The van was recovered on Tuesday afternoon in Long Close, Wood Farm.

The dazed pensioner managed to stagger to a phone box to call police.

He said despite the unprovoked violence, his attacker appeared calculating.

"He was very controlled. He wasn't hyperactive. He didn't swear at all and he didn't seem to be under the influence of anything," he said.

"He knew what he wanted and he was going to get it. This is a warning to allotment holders that these things can happen," said Mr Perkins, who was an Oxford City Council painter and decorator for 36 years. He has vowed to return to work on his plot of land when he is well enough.

Detectives described the robbery as "a horrendous, unprovoked attack".

Dc Rod Rhymes said it was vital for police speak to anyone who saw the offender with the van between the time of the offence and about 4.15pm on Tuesday, when it was recovered.

Bryan Talbot, 72, of Fettiplace Road, Barton, who has a plot at the allotments, said: "I was shocked to find out what had happened."

Detectives are looking for a white man, about 25, 5ft 10in tall, of medium build, clean shaven with a clear complexion, wearing dark clothing.

Call police on 08458 505505, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.