A WOMAN struck in the face by a glass bottle during a fight between football hooligans in Bolton has undergone surgery.

She was recovering today at a specialist facial unit at Blackburn Royal Infirmary after an operation on her nose on Monday afternoon.

The woman, in her mid-20s, who has not been named but is from Bolton, was approached from behind and hit in the face with a bottle as up to 30 thugs clashed on Saturday night in Nelson Square.

It is believed that the majority of them were Wigan Athletic fans but Bolton Wanderers supporters were involved. Windows at the Spinning Mule pub were smashed. Police say the woman was an innocent victim of the trouble.

Staff from the nearby Life Bar ran outside to help her. Life's general manager Andy Rimmer, aged 35, said: "I saw someone run up to her from behind and hit her in the face with something." Police have described the woman's injuries as "horrendous".

A doorman at the Spinning Mule also suffered minor injuries during the fighting. Bottles and glasses were also thrown, forcing many pubs to close their doors early. Police are continuing to study CCTV footage.