Car-jacker attacks woman with a shovel in Sydney’s west

A 56-year-old woman is recovering in hospital after she was beaten with a shovel during an attempted car-jacking in Sydney’s west.

Carol Sheridan had pulled into Rippon Avenue in Dundas to answer her mobile phone when she was set upon by a man armed with a steel shovel.

“There's this guy laying into a woman in a car,” witness Ian Colly told 9NEWS.

“He saw me, abused me and then started hitting her car with the shovel.”

Ms Sheridan managed to pull the door shut and flee down Kissing Point Road before stopping on Church Street in Parramatta to get help.

Her attacker was picked up by the dog squad not far away.

Police say the 32-year-old man was placed in a secure ward in Westmead Hospital where he will be questioned in relation to the incident.

Ms Sheridan is in the same hospital with severe injuries to her face.