POLICE investigating a brutal attack on a young woman in Burnley today revealed a scratch made when the victim lashed out could help solve the crime.

Officers are hoping a distinctive injury to the man's face could lead them to him.

A 21-year-old woman was followed by three men in a car as she walked home alone in Colne Road and attacked when one of the men got out of the car and pursued her on foot.

The victim, who has not been named, noticed she was being followed by three Asian men in a white car.

Police investigating the incident said two of the three got out of the car at Thursby Square while the driver continued to pursue her along Colne Road, eventually parking the vehicle in Ribblesdale Street.

The man then got out and followed her on foot along Briercliffe Road.

At the junction of Williams Road and Briercliffe Road he grabbed the woman and dragged her to the floor.

Detective Sergeant Steve Mounsey of Burnley CID described the incident as a "nasty and brutal attack".

He said: "The woman struggled and managed to give him a nasty scratch on the left side of his face. She then punched him and ran off and called the police on her mobile phone."

The attacker is described as an Asian male, 5ft 7ins tall, in his late 30s, chubby with a round face, stubble, slanting eyes, black shaved hair and wearing a distinctive red and black horizontally striped rugby top with dark trousers and shoes.

He spoke broken English with a strong Asian accent and the vehicle was white and described as being in good condition. It may have been a Toyota.

The woman received some grazing to her legs and a bruised knuckle from where she struck her attacker.

DS Mounsey added: "It was a nasty brutal attack and we don't know what the motive was. We do believe the man will have a distinctive facial injury."

Police are appealing for witnesses and believe a man standing outside St Andrew's Church at the time may have seen the woman being pursued by car.

Anyone with any information about the incident, which happened at around 1.25am on Tuesday, should contact DC Rachel Wayne on 01282 472149.