A MAN has suffered first degree burns after a woman threw boiling water from a kettle over him.

She then chased him into the street and hit him with the kettle in front of shocked witnesses.

Police said the 61-year-old male victim, and the attacker, a woman, aged 28, are known to each other, but are not related or in a relationship.

They are associates, officers confirmed. She is now being hunted by police.

Detective believe the ‘serious assault’ may have been triggered by a request for money from the woman, which they believe was refused.

The incident started in the front room of the man’s home address in Devon Place, Church, and then spilled out into Market Place and Blackburn Road.

He was struck with the kettle outside an off-licence in Blackburn Road.

DS Alan Davies said: “This was a particularly nasty assault.

"The victim has suffered quite significant first degree burns to his body and arms.

“As he fled the address the assault continued and there were a number of witnesses we’d like to speak to who would have seen him in the street.

“We are very keen to trace this woman so if anybody knows of her whereabouts, we would urge them to contact us.”

The scalding happened at 8pm on Saturday.

The man was taken to hospital for treatment to his burns and is now recovering back home.

Police have now appealed for witnesses to come forward.

Anyone with information should contact Accrington CID on 0845 125 3545.