A MAN could be scarred for life after he was slashed across the face with a stanley knife in a "frenzied" attack during a street robbery.

The 51-year-old victim was walking along Oxford Street, Leigh, at about 3pm on Saturday when a man shouted at him.

When the man turned around, the robber confronted him before lashing out at him with a knife, slashing his face and body.

The victim ran off, but was chased on to Boydell Street, where he was robbed of his mobile phone.

The attacker, who was white, in his early 20s and about 5ft 8in tall, then ran to a white Audi that was driven off by another man.

Det Con Andrew Partington said: “While this incident appears to have been motivated by robbery, the preceding violence was excessive and unnecessary and we are continuing to keep an entirely open mind about the circumstances surrounding what occurred.

“The offender waved a stanley knife frenziedly in the victim’s face and it is no exaggeration to say he could very well have been killed, had he caught a major artery.

“The injuries are serious and the man will most likely bear the scars of this attack for the rest of his life.

“If anyone was in the area of the attack on Saturday and saw what happened or knows who the offender is I would encourage them to call us.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 8567225, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.