A TERRIFIED mother has told how she had her face slashed in a vicious attack outside her own home.

The mother of three - who does not want to be named because she fears reprisal attacks - was attacked in the back yard of her home by two mystery men.

The 36-year-old woman was put through the terrifying ordeal late on Sunday night outside her home in Redearth Street, Darwen. And she has revealed it is the second time she has been the victim of a violent robbery in the space of a year.

The woman, who was attacked while her children slept in her house, believes the two men were drug addicts desperate for cash.

She said: "I was outside emptying rubbish into the wheelie bin when these men came towards me. One of them grabbed my hair and smashed my face into the ground, he then put something sharp against my face.

"The man said something in a strong Scottish accent and the other one sat on my legs while he searched my pockets. The Scottish man then pushed whatever he had into my face before he ran off. "They knew exactly what they were doing and they seemed desperate for money, I am sure they were drug addicts."

The woman added: "I was covered in blood because my nose and face were bleeding and when they saw me the kids went hysterical. I was more worried about the children than anything else but when the police arrived I just went to pieces.

"I was really shaken up but I wouldn't go to hospital because I didn't want to leave the children."

She added: "This is the second time something like this has happened to me this year. I was working in a taxi firm last year when two men came in and tried to steal the wages.

"One of them hit me on the head with an iron bar when I wouldn't tell them where the money was kept."

Police are keen to trace the muggers and have issued descriptions of the two men. The first is white, in his early 20s, stocky, around 5ft 6ins and has dark hair.

He spoke with a Scottish accent and was wearing a red baseball cap, a track suit top with striped arms and jeans.

The second man was wearing a dark coloured baseball cap and was slim. Both men fled in the direction of Hannah Street.

Police are keen to hear from anyone in the Redearth Street area who saw the two men at the time of the attack.

Anyone with information should ring Darwen police station on 01254 701777.

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