A YOUNG woman had her face slashed by scissors after she was knocked to the ground and kicked by three teenagers in a 'brutal' and 'random' assault.

The 18-year-old had been approached by the teenage girls from behind on Princess Avenue in Tyldesley when she was subjected to the attack that left her with a broken rib and 'mentally and physically scarred'.

The girls pulled her to the ground and began kicking her.

One of the teenagers pulled out some scissors, which she used to cut the victim’s hair, as well as her face.

The victim then managed to escape from the group and make her way home.

Police constable James McCallion, from Greater Manchester Police’s Wigan borough division, said: “This was a completely random attack on a young woman that has left her mentally and physically scarred.

“The brutal manner with which they cut her hair and then left her with a broken rib is something they should be utterly ashamed of.

The incident took place on Wednesday, November 1.

Police were called at around 6.15pm.

PC McCallion added: “The assault happened on a busy street at a time when people will have been making their way back from work.

"I ask anyone who saw anything to get in touch.”

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 7225 or 101, quoting incident number 2,099 of November 1, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.