A 78-YEAR-OLD woman was seriously injured when a glass ashtray thrown from the beer garden of a Burnley town centre pub hit her on the head.

The incident happened when the pensioner was walking along Parker Lane, near Yates Wine Lodge, at 4.10pm on Saturday.

Police said officers who were already patrolling the area as part of an operation during Burnley's home game with Sheffield Wednesday, were called to the scene.

The woman was carried away from the pavement by two officers and taken to hospital by ambulance with a fractured skull.

Shoppers were told to walk along Croft Street as an alternative route while police cordoned off Parker Lane, between its junction with St James Street and Boot Way.

The incident happened just yards from where Nottingham Forest fan Nathan Shaw was killed after a bottle was thrown in the street in December.

A police spokesman said: "The woman suffered a wound to her head and she was conveyed to Burnley General Hospital where it was ascertained she had sustained a fracture to her skull. While her injuries are relatively serious, her condition is described as comfortable.

"A large number of people were present at the time of the incident and while a number of them have already provided police with information there may be some others who witnesses the incident but who have not contacted the police."

Staff at Yates Wine Lodge refused to comment on the incident.

Detective Inspector Dermott Horrigan said: "There were a number of football fans who came into the town centre after the match but at this stage we are not automatically linking this incident to any part of that group.

"The elderly lady is in remarkably high spirits."

The police helicopter flew over Turf Moor and the town centre in the build up to the match, which kicked off at 1.30pm, and at the end of the game which Sheffield Wednesday won 7-2.

Anyone who may have information about the incident in Parker Lane should contact Burnley Police on 01282 425001.

A 21-year-old man has been charged with wounding and assaulting a police officer and is due to appear before magistrates in Burnley on Wednesday.