A father has criticised police response after he was attacked by a hammer-wielding man while making a phone call.

Arshat Mahmood, 30, who was calling his wife at home in Horsforth, claims police failed to turn up following the incident at a phone box in Leeds Road, Bradford.

The father-of-one said: "I was just minding my own business when I heard this man screaming. He had a hammer in his hand and he yelled: 'You've got three seconds to get out!'"

The man then smashed through the window.

"I managed to get past him, I don't know how, and rushed onto the main road and into a nearby restaurant," said Mr Mahmood, a store manager.

"I rang 999 and told police I was petrified I was going to be attacked again. My car was also parked near the phone box and this made me worried too, because I didn't know how long the man was going to be there."

He said he made two calls, giving a good description of the man, but five minutes later was called back and told to make his own way home.

"I was gobsmacked. I insisted they send someone out because I was worried and could see the man but they just told me to go home. I feel very angry and upset," he said.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: "Leeds Road is covered by three police divisions. At 23.28 police were contacted by a man reporting damage to a phone kiosk in Leeds Road, Thornbury.

"Officers from Eccleshill police station were dispatched within three minutes. They searched the area of Leeds Road which they cover but could not find a damaged phone kiosk within their division.

"It appears the offence took place in Odsal police division and enquiries will now be undertaken by an officer there.''

She later added: "We spoke to the man and gave him an explanation of what had happened.

"We were under the impression the complainant was happier. No letter has been sent out because we didn't feel a letter was necessary. An officer actually went to his home and saw him."