Detectives are appealing for information and witnesses after a shop worker was sprayed with a noxious substance.

Police were called at around 17:45hrs on 27 December to reports of a man injured after being sprayed with a substance in Cardigan Road, Bow E3.

The victim, a 29-year-old man, was attacked by a man as he pursued on foot a female suspected of shoplifting out of the store he worked at.

The substance, believed to be ammonia, was sprayed in the man’s face, causing serious potentially life-changing injuries.

The suspect was described as a white male in his 20s, with short blonde or ginger hair. He was wearing jeans and a dark-coloured jacket.

Anyone who was in the area at the time of the incident and has information about what happened or the attacker should contact police on 101 quoting CAD 4848/27DEC18.

To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online atwww.crimestoppers-uk.org.

+ A 46-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of GBH and shoplifting. She was later charged with theft.