A mother was stabbed in the neck by “scumbag” robbers in a horrifying daylight attack while at home with her 18-month-old child.

Two robbers are thought to have knocked on the 31-year-old’s door before barging their way into her Morden house and demanding she hand over jewellery.

At some point during the struggle her neck was slashed.

The woman was later taken from her St Helier Avenue home to hospital for emergency surgery and is now believed to be recovering.

The police have not released a description of the attackers, and would not confirm the woman’s name.

But the officer leading the investigation said the attack was being treated “extremely seriously”.

Zoe Hall, who lives nearby, said a little girl was held by a policeman on the doorstep of the house as her mother was carried into an ambulance at about 1pm last Thursday.

She said: “We saw a woman coming out of the house covered in blood. Her eyes were rolling back in her head.”

An air ambulance was sent to the scene, but was not used.

Neighbours said the woman had lived in the road for about two years.

Her husband and child are understood to have moved out of the house in the wake of the attack.

A councillor for St Helier ward, where the stabbing happened, branded the attackers “scumbags” – but insisted the area was normally safe.

Councillor Maxi Martin said: “We will be praying for this lady’s recovery. It’s so lovely and calm here – people know each other, and newcomers are welcomed in.”

St Helier Avenue resident Leonard Sweetapple said: “It’s worrying, but it’s life today. That sort of thing never used to go on.”

Another neighbour, who lives just metres away from the scene of the attack, said violence in the area was rare.

She said: “I was shocked to be honest.”

Police officers and forensic experts taped off about 100m of St Helier Avenue immediately after the attack, as more than 20 officers scoured the area for evidence.

Another resident is thought to have been treated for shock after seeing the woman wheeled out of her home.

Detective Chief Inspector Sean Wanless of Merton police said: “We are appealing for any person who witnessed the incident, or who has any information concerning it, to contact us.”

Anyone with information should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or Wimbledon CID on 020 8649 3118.