The hunt for a man who beat up an 84-year-old Mid Sussex woman and tried to indecently assault her will be made on TV's Crimewatch tomorrow.

Retired teacher Vera Stephens defended herself by biting her assailant on the lip as he carried out the brutal attack in her home in Crawley.

She answered her door in Brighton Road to the man, who had feigned a woman's voice on the intercom.

He then punched her in the face and pushed her into the bathroom, beating her to the floor before attempting to indecently assault her.

She said: "I'm usually much more careful but I opened the door. His face was right up at the door and out came this fist and hit me."

Mrs Stephens bit her attacker on the lip and screamed for help, alerting a 71-year-old neighbour across the hallway.

The attacker then burst into the neighbour's flat. She managed to get him out and he hit Mrs Stephens once again.

Mrs Stephens was taken to hospital suffering serious cuts and bruises to her face but was released later in the day. Her neighbour was not hurt but was badly shaken.

Crimewatch director Ian Levison said: "This is a horrible crime and the guy who did it is a creep. He showed no emotion at all.

"The victim is an extraordinary woman who has been described as a plucky pensioner. She is a defenceless lady who should not have been punched and assaulted in her own home. But she is not a victim because she bit her attacker.

"Although she wanted to forget the whole thing she does not want anyone else to go through what she's been through. "

Detective Constable Steve Tattersall, who is leading the hunt for the assailant, hopes the reconstruction will jog witnesses' memories.

He said: "This is an extremely serious, thankfully very rare type of attack. We've all been impressed by how strong this lady has been after such a nasty assault."

The reconstruction has been filmed at Mrs Stephen's home, outside in Brighton Road and at Crawley railway station.

Sussex Police have offered a £5,000 reward for information leading to the attacker's conviction.

Mrs Stephens' attacker was aged between 19 and 23, between 5ft 2in and 5ft 4in tall, of medium to plump build with slightly tanned skin and short, straight dark hair. His face was round - described as being like a child's drawing - and he had crooked teeth.

The attack happened at about 4.50pm on Sunday April 1. The intruder would have had a burst lip for about a week afterwards.

Anyone with information should call Det Con Tattersall at Crawley CID on 0845 6070999 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Crimewatch will be screened on BBC1 tomorrow at 8.05pm.