A RIBBLE Valley councillor has told of her terror after thugs smashed her car window in a late-night attack that left her with cuts on her hands and legs.

Shopkeeper Joyce Holgate had just parked behind her Abbey Candy Store in King Street, Whalley, when a brick was hurled with full force from a wall at the back of the shop.

It smashed through the driver-side front window, missing her head by inches.

Now police are appealing for witnesses to the apparently motiveless incident on Friday night.

"It was about 10.40pm and I was parking my car at the back of the shop when it came from nowhere and smashed through the window," said Coun Holgate.

"I put my hands up to my face to protect it and was showered with glass. The brick missed my head by inches and the flying glass cut my hands and legs. I could have been killed." The thugs then threw a boulder at another car before running away and the incident has left the councillor "shattered."

"I thought I was being mugged and can think of no reason why it would have happened. I am a nervous wreck over it," she said.

Clitheroe police Insp Les Martin described the incident as an act of mindless vandalism.

"It must have been a terrifying ordeal and Mrs Holgate could have been badly injured.

"She is extremely fortunate - as is the person who threw the brick, as this could quite easily have been a serious matter.

"There does not appear to have been a motive for the attack and there was no attempt to steal anything from the shop.

"We are appealing for witnesses and want to speak to anyone who was around that part of Whalley last Friday night," he said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Clitheroe police in confidence on 01200 443344.

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