A distraught mum today told how she feared she had gone blind after hooligans threw a water bomb in her face.

Elizabeth Methven, 27, was left with two black and swollen eyes and temporary blindness after the unprovoked attack in Long Road, Canvey.

The mother-of-two, of The Point, had been cycling along the side of the road when the object filled with water came at her from a passing car.

It hit her square in the face, forcing her to the ground.

Thrown into shock, Mrs Methven jumped back onto her bike and peddled to her nearby mother's home - with blurred sight in one eye.

Still shaken from the cruel incident, she said: "It is the shock of it all rather than the pain. You do not expect that sort of thing to happen as you ride along.

"I ended up with two black eyes and sharp pains. I could feel something wet on me and everything went black. That is when the adrenaline kicked in. I got on my bike and went straight round to my mum's.

"I could not see through my left eye and my right eye was blurred. I really thought I had gone blind. I tried to flag someone down to help but they all looked at me and drove on past.

"I feel really sorry for the people who did this. I do not understand what enjoyment these people get from seeing others in pain. I am just so glad it was me and not an elderly or young person.

"It will be a long time before I can go out on my bike again."

PC Mark Glasscock from Canvey, said: "This was a totally unprovoked and nasty attack. The woman had blurred vision when the water bomb was thrown in her face and so did not see the car it was thrown from, although she heard a young man swear.

"She did manage to see the maroon-coloured Escort which was travelling behind the car which the water bomb was thrown from. It is believed a couple were in the Escort and they may know something."

Anyone who knows any more about the attack, at around 7pm on Sunday, should contact PC Glasscock at Canvey on 01268 511212.

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