A GRANDMOTHER has been left injured after being punched and kicked in a street attack.

Michelle Jobling, 48, was making her way home from Chen’s chip shop in Blackburn Road, Darwen, with food for her son Bailey, 15, and grandson Spencer, five, when she was set upon in an unlit ginnel between Ribble Avenue and Hodder Grove, in the Birch Hall area.

She suffered blurred vision and a suspected broken hand.

Police say the incid-ent was unsual as there was no attempt to steal anything from her, or an obvious motive.

Ms Jobling, of Mersey Avenue, said: “When I walk up the ginnels I always say ‘all right’ to anyone passing, and I said it that time, but got no reply.

“It was pitch black and all I could see was a hoodie then all of a sudden, whoever it was punched me hard in in the face.

"I began falling and tried to grab on to the railings with my left hand but landed on the floor.

"Then I was kicked in the face.

“My teeth were hurting so much I don’t know how they stayed in.

"I’ve got blurred vision in my right eye, and my daughter, who is a nurse, reckons my hand is broken.”

Ms Jobling said her attacker, who is described as a white, slim man, 5’8 tall wearing a dark coloured hooded top, ran off in the direction of Ribble Avenue without saying a word, at 8.30pm on Saturday.

She managed to pick herself up and struggle home, still carrying the chips.

When son Bailey and his friend Stephen, 16, saw her injuries, they immediately set off to find the attacker, but were unsuccessful.

A police spokeswoman said: “The victim was confronted before being pun-ched to the face and falling to the floor where she was kicked.

“No threats or demands were made.

“This would appear to be an unprovoked attack without motive.”