A 61-year-old Lancaster woman narrowly escaped serious injury after an attacker sprayed a caustic substance in her face as she opened the front door.

Fortunately the woman, of Slyne Road, was wearing glasses which protected her eyes from the dangerous fluid in the attack on Monday night.

The attacker fled empty handed after a brief struggle and the woman was knocked to the floor. The incident has prompted police officers to reiterate their calls for people to be extra careful when they open their door to strangers.

DC Dave Alexander said: "This was a nasty incident. Elderly people should make sure they have a chain on the door."

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