Local men asked for DNA after elderly Sydney woman bashed

Local men in a Sydney suburb where an elderly woman was brutally bashed last month have been asked to volunteer their DNA to police today.

Carmel Payne, 72, was found in a pool of her own blood with severe head injuries on her front porch in Daceyville, near Sydney Airport, last month. It is believed the elderly woman had been on her porch around 5.30am to feed birds.

Police have asked local male residents to undergo swab testing to have any potential involvement in the incident ruled out.

A mobile command bus arrived at around 10am in Daceyville to implement the testing.

Neighbours feared the brutal attack may have been related to a neighbour dispute. Ms Payne had objected to a neighbour putting pot plants in her garden and had reportedly been to court over the matter.

Ms Payne remains in a critical condition at the Prince of Wales Hospital and is unable to talk to police.