A TODDLER was left 'terrified' after yobs threw a plastic bottle from a car hitting him in the face.

Two-and-a-half-year-old Alexander Stiles from Rawtenstall was riding home on his tricycle with his mum Rebeca, 34, after visiting a friend in Crawshawbooth when the incident took place.

Mrs Stiles, who cares for Alexander and his sister Brianne full-time, didn't manage to get a good look at the car as she was too concerned about her baby but thinks it was silver in colour.

She said: "He was terrified. You don't expect someone to launch something at your baby.

"If you drop something out of a car, it might bounce. But this just came with such force that I have no doubt it was aimed at my son.

"He keeps asking me about 'the naughty bottle'. You just can't explain this kind of thing to a baby. It makes me a bit concerned to take him out on his tricycle again."

Alexander's dad Rob, 35, a self-employed computer programmer, said: "It was an unexpected, unprovoked, high-speed attack on a defenceless two-year-old. What a horrible world we live in."

A police spokesman said: “The incident was reported to us the following day and we would ask that if anyone witnessed what happened or has information about the incident to come forward and contact us on 0845 1 25 35 45 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.”