A disabled pensioner made a 999 call after being punched senseless by a burglar - but police were too busy to see him.

Ray Holt, 68, was left waiting more than 24 hours before officers arrived.

Police last night apologised for their second blunder in two days.

On Wednesday, a curry house owner kept a suspected burglar prisoner in his restaurant for more than an hour but had to free him when police failed to turn up.

Mr Holt, of Bevendean, Brighton, was in the bathroom when a man knocked at his door, claiming he had come to check the gas meter at 11am on Thursday.

When he let him in, he was knocked to the ground and beaten.

The thief fled with a jewellery box, leaving Mr Holt slumped unconscious in his hallway.

He said: "I turned my back and he knocked me to the floor. When I tried to get up, he punched me in the face and I passed out.

"I must have been out for at least two or three minutes. When I came to, the man had gone."

His wife Marilyn came home at 1pm to find her husband in shock.

He said: "I was in such a state, it was terrible. I was crying and she was crying. My hands are still shaking.

"I couldn't sleep at all last night. I've got bad headaches and I can't see out of the eye that was punched. The man gave me quite a hiding."

Mrs Holt made a 999 call at 1.50pm. She rang again at 6.45pm when they realised her jewellery box had gone.

Mr Holt said: "My wife called the police because I was too upset. They said they would call back to interview me but I heard nothing.

"I think it is really bad they took so long. I know they are busy but this is terrible. I'm a bundle of nerves now."

Mr Holt, who served in the Army for six years fighting in Suez and Cyprus with the paratroopers, said he had warned his neighbours in the past not to open their doors to bogus gas men.

He said: "It's ironic I've ended up the victim. A few weeks ago, two men came to the door, saying they were from the gas board but I refused to let them in. I told all the neighbours there were bogus men going round and to be careful.

"I'm usually careful but I just wasn't on my guard because I was expecting a parcel to be delivered for my wife.

"I just keep asking myself, 'Why me?'

"I've learnt my lesson. My message to everyone is not to open their door to anyone they don't know. From now on I will only open the door on the chain."

Police finally arrived at 2.30pm yesterday, after Mr Holt contacted The Argus.

Chief Inspector Andy Smith of the Sussex Police community department apologised to Mr and Mrs Holt.

He said: "This was one of 2,000 999 calls that day.

"We've listened to the tape and clearly it should have been responded to better.

"We apologise to Mr and Mrs Holt and will investigate. The majority of calls are handled properly and the correct response is given."

A spokeswoman added: "We would like to emphasise that if people come to your door, claiming to be from the gas or water board, ask them to put their identification through the letter box and telephone their company to check they are genuine."

Mrs Holt said: "I think it is awful the police didn't come sooner.

"I know they are very busy but my husband was seriously hurt and they should have responded more quickly."

The attacker was described as 5ft 8in, of medium build with short light brown hair.

He was clean-shaven, wearing a zip-up blue jacket and grey trousers. He was carrying a brown briefcase.