A WOMAN'S neck was injured in a violent street mugging in Blackburn early this morning.

The attack happened in Pringle Street, close to Bennington Street, after the woman finished work at 12.30am.

The 59-year-old Lithuanian woman was confronted by a man who was shouting at her.

He was carrying what police have described as an old style black mobile telephone with an antenna, which struck the woman during a struggle for her handbag.

She suffered a cut to her neck.

The attacker managed to wrestle the black and white-squared fabric handbag from her and ran off.

It contained a Nokia mobile phone, cash and five plastic tubs of olives. He ran off towards Queens Park Road.

The woman was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital where she was treated before being released. Her injuries are not serious.

Zoe Owen, 17, from Malham Gardens, Blackburn, said: “We were in bed and heard a scream.

"My brother Josh and his friend ran to find her. They saw the man running off.

"The woman was in shock and she nearly fainted. She was holding her neck and there was a lot of blood running down her arm.”

Paul Corbett, 45, from Malham Gardens, Blackburn, said: “My sons went running out.

"They saw the exact same man stood on the concrete in the grassed area the night before.”

The man is described as being about 5ft 9ins tall and thin.

He had a light coloured covering on his head leaving just his eyes exposed.

He spoke English and had a young sounding voice.

He wearing loose-fitting clothing including a dark-coloured top and light tracksuit bottoms.

Detective Inspector Mark Winstanley said: “This was a cowardly attack on a lone woman and we need to find the person responsible.

“Even the smallest amount could be crucial to finding the person responsible.”