A HORRIFIED father has told how his granddaughter’s clothes were left blood-stained after his daughter-in-law was slashed with a knife.

A 19-year-old woman remains in custody after being arrested on suspicion of GBH and possession of an offensive weapon following the incident on Tuesday.

Dave Smith’s daughter-in-law was the woman who was attacked, and she has since been discharged from hospital after being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Read more: Police issue update after parent is slashed with a knife outside pre-school​

The 63-year-old Colchester resident said: “She’s been interviewed by the police, but has taken it all very, very badly.

“We don’t know whether she will ever return to the nursery; it has traumatised her.

“She is a very anxious woman anyway, living with anxiety, and had only just started leaving the house, so this has really knocked her back.

Gazette:

“The attacker slashed her with a knife on the arm and it’s quite deep, she’s had stitches at hospital.

“If this was a few minutes later a load of four-year-old kids would’ve walked out and been traumatised for life.

“When I heard what had happened I grabbed my keys and ran, by the time I got there the police had already nicked the person.”

Mr Smith added: “She is very shaken up. Physically the injuries could be far worse but it’s the mental impact which is going to be bad.

“I’m just glad the police got there before things turned out a lot worse.”

Essex Police has urged anyone with information to get in touch via 101 and quote incident 769 March 22.