A TERRIFIED grandmother had a tooth knocked out as she was kicked and punched repeatedly by a mugger.

Jean South was attacked in the toilets of a fast food restaurant after a trip to Manchester for some Christmas shopping.

The 52-year-old of Broadfield Road, Accrington, said the assault was so ferocious that she thought the man was going to kill her.

She is now recovering at home after emergency treatment to facial injuries.

Mrs South is still struggling to speak and said the attack - during which she was robbed of £20 - had left her "traumatised".

She said: "My face has now swollen up to twice its size.

"My top lip was ripped open. One tooth came out by the root and another was smashed back into the roof of my mouth.

"The surgeon said it looked as if I'd been in a major road accident."

She spent four hours at Bury's Fairfield Hospital after the attack at a Burger King at the Bridge Hall Industrial Park, Bury, at lunchtime on Monday.

No-one has been arrested in connection with the incident and Mrs South warned: "This man is definitely going to kill someone if he's not caught."

The mother-of-three had the £20 stolen from her back pocket and a watch removed from her wrist during the vicious assault, which happened at noon.

After treatment at Fairfield Hospital she attended an emergency dentist in Blackburn.

The assault happened after Mrs South and her 70-year-old husband, Leonard, were driving from their home en route to Manchester to do their Christmas shopping.

She said: "I was desperate to use the toilet and decided to call in at Burger King.

"As I went to unlock the door of the cubicle to come out, it was pushed back into my face. Then this man pummelled me.

"He kicked me in the face and punched me repeatedly.

"The attack seemed to last an eternity and I'd say it went on for about five minutes.

"I rolled myself up into a ball to protect myself.

"He told me that if I screamed, then he'd kill me.

"I couldn't believe what was happening to me.

"He stole the £20 from my pocket and grabbed the watch from my wrist."

Mrs South, who has three grandchildren, added: "Police told me this man was obviously waiting for any woman to come out the toilet."

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said the incident was being investigated.

Manager of the Burger King, Toni Birch said: "This was a completely isolated incident and nothing of this nature has ever happened before.

"It came as quite a shock and we tried to act as professionally as possible by providing her with aid and comfort.

"This incident has shaken us all up and has also made staff more alert."