Detectives investigating an attack on a man who lost an eye fear the robber may have struck again.

Labourer Stephen Johnson, 48, had his head smashed against a wall as he walked home from work in Otley town centre. He was pinned down and mugged for just £2.30.

Doctors at Bradford Royal Infirmary fought to save his left eye following the attack, but had to operate.

Detectives are not ruling out a link between the attack on Mr Johnson, which took place on August 6 and an attack on a 23-year-old man yesterday .

The 23-year-old man was walking in Burras Road, Otley, in the early hours of the morning when he was approached from behind.

The would-be robber demanded money and produced a flick knife. The man ran off and was pursued by the knife-wielding robber. He managed to escape and police believe the two incidents could be linked.

Detective Inspector Liam Mac-Namara, of Weetwood CID, said he was certain the robber was from the Otley area. And he warned the robber may strike again if he is not caught. "This person is dangerous," he said. "The fact that he ran after the man armed with a knife shows that. We are not discounting the possibility that the same person maybe responsible."

The man who attacked Mr Johnson is described as white, in his early 20s, with short cropped blond hair, a long thin nose and eyes close together. The robber who attacked the 23-year-old man is described as white, about 5ft 11ins, aged 20 to 25, short hair, with a couple of days stubble. Anyone with information is asked to contact Weetwood CID on (0113) 241 3485.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.