Lesley Mangham, 53, was at home with her husband Stephen, 53, on Nelson Street, South Hiendley, when she heard youths throwing stones and beer bottles at their house on Friday evening.

When she went outside to speak to the group, one of them threw a mountain bike at her.

Mrs Mangham, who suffered cuts and bruises on her leg, had a stroke shortly afterwards.

Mr Mangham said: "I wasn't well at the time. I didn't see a great deal but I heard Lesley shouting.

"There were great big bangs – people were throwing stones and beer bottles at the house. When Lesley went out they were shouting sexual comments at her and she was distressed.

"Then they threw a mountain bike and legged it. She stepped back but it still hit her leg."

The couple called the police but Mr Mangham said his wife had started to get flustered and forgetful when they arrived.

He said: "When we woke up the next morning you could see she'd had a stroke. Her face had dropped and she was confused. I'm sure the incident brought it on.

"If the bike had hit her on the head, she could have died."

Mrs Mangham was taken to Pinderfields General Hospital, Wakefield, on Monday, where her treatment continues.

Mr Mangham said: "She was frightened to death because she didn't want to leave me to go to hospital. It's very distressing to see her in this state."

Mr Mangham said the couple had been subjected to anti-social behaviour on their street for years.

He added: "We've lived here for 12 years and it's slowly escalated. We got fed up reporting it because we got nowhere. We closed ourselves in and ignored them.

"I'm angry – it's gone way over the top. I want to move house as quickly as we can."

A 63-year-old woman living nearby, who did not want to be named through fear of reprisal, said: "During the day you couldn't live in a nicer place, but at night you feel threatened.

"You daren't go out to stop them.

"Old people who are poorly live here. It's frightening – these yobs could kill someone."

Police are investigating the incident and have carried out house-to-house inquires.

The southeast neighbourhood police team has stepped up patrols in the area and is appealing to residents to report incidents of anti-social behaviour.

A 21-year-old South Hiendley man has been arrested on suspicion of assault and has been bailed pending further inquires.

Anyone with information is asked to call Sgt Andy Shaw on 01924 295414.