A 53-year-old British woman, who has not yet been named, was rushed to hospital in the early hours of Sunday morning, after being stabbed in the stomach by an intruder who broke into her home near the small town of Pinoso (pictured).

It is believed the intruder was attempting a burglary at the time, and grabbed a kitchen knife when confronted by the homeowner.

The woman, who was alone at the time, managed to call the emergency services and was taken to a nearby hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery. Her condition is now stable.

The mountainous Pinoso area, on the Alicante/Murcia border, has become increasingly popular with foreign buyers in recent years, with a growing British community.

A local newspaper, La Verdad, said that many foreign residents chose to live in isolated countryside houses, making them an “easy target” for crime.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: “We are aware of the hospitalisation of a British national in Pinoso and Consular assistance is being provided.”