A THUG lashed out with a craft knife and cut his terrified woman victim on her cheek in a town centre robbery.

The victim, aged 31, suffered a half inch cut, just inches from her eye, and was robbed of cash and jewellery on the car park behind Haslingden library .

Detective Sergeant Jes Holland said: "It's a particularly nasty incident with a high degree of violence and could have led to something a lot more serious.

"The knife nicked her on the cheek and it is not a deep wound, but had she not been stepping back it could have caused a much more serious injury."

The woman had parked her car at about 5.30pm on Wednesday and was walking towards Hindle Street in the direction of Deardengate.

Police said two men were walking towards her and as they got close to her one of them produced a craft knife and demanded money.

She handed over a wallet containing around £25, but refused to give them her jewellery and stepped back.

Police said one of the robbers then lashed out with the knife which caught her on the cheek.

The young woman then handed over jewellery, including a bracelet and a watch, and the two men ran off towards Bury Road.

The badly shaken victim, who lives in Haslingden, was treated at hospital but was today back at work at a local upholstery factory.

The robber with the knife is white, aged between 30 and 35, about 5ft 7in tall and stocky, with short hair. He had a local accent and wore blue jeans and a bomber style jacket.

The other robber is also white, in his mid to late twenties, about 5ft 3in tall, slim, and was wearing a dark woollen hat.

Anyone who saw the robbery or recognises the description of the attackers is can contact Rawtenstall CID on 01706 215242.

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