A MAN was slashed across the face and badly wounded during a terror knife attack in a busy town centre street.

The violent attack came seconds after the victim, who lives in Horwich, had climbed back into his Rover car after drawing money from a TSB bank cash machine in Winter Hey Lane, Horwich on Saturday evening.

As he and a passenger prepared to drive away two men, whose faces were masked by scarves, approached their vehicle.

The driver was told to get out of the car but refused and a struggle followed in which he was slashed across the right side of his face from mouth to ear.

The terrified 30-year-old man, whose name has not been released, was eventually able to get the car into gear and sped from the scene. He also suffered a slash wound down the side of his nose as well as a deep scratch wound to his back.

The man's gashed face was treated at Royal Bolton Hospital and he was allowd home later.

His passenger has told detectives the second attacker was banging on the car door with what appeared to be a hand gun.

Police are still not sure whether the attackers, who escaped on foot across Station Park in Horwich, planned to steal cash or the car.

Detective Constable Andy Higham said: "This was a very bad attack. The level of violence is quite extensive. The street would have been quite busy at that time of night so someone may have seen this attack."

The knifeman was wearing a blue top and his accomplice wore a white Kappa top.

Anyone with information should contact the police on 0161 872 5050 or Crimsetoppers on 0800 555111.

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