A young woman has been left with facial and arm injuries after a stranger threw acid in her face as she answered the door.

The 28-year-old is in a specialist burns unit after the incident on Tuesday April 30 in Marshalls Road, Romford at 9.20pm.

The woman answered her door just before 9pm to a man asking for Michelle, which is not the victim’s name.

Police have said that 30 minutes later the man returned and when the victim answered the door, the man squirted an unidentified substance in her face.

The woman managed to shut her door and rinse her face with water while an ambulance was called.

The suspect is described as a white, short male about 20-years-old wearing black clothing who spoke with a foreign accent.

Officers from Havering CID are investigating and they have said that they are keeping an “open mind” regarding the motive.

DC Paul Swift from Romford CID said: “This was a cowardly attack during which the victim suffered substantial injuries and I would appeal to anyone who may have witnessed this offence, a male loitering around the area before the incident occurred or has knowledge of this matter to come forward.”

Any witnesses or anyone with information should call Havering CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.