A woman who was headbutted in a violent assault in Colchester which also saw her friend slashed in the face with a broken bottle has spoken out over the attack.

The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, has described the vicious assault which happened at the skate park close to Colchester's Castle Park.

The woman called police shortly after 10pm on Friday to report the shocking incident - which saw her male friend sustain a large cut to his cheek.

Both victims were taken to hospital for further treatment and the man needed 26 stitches for his wound.

The woman said she was in the skate park off Cowdray Avenue with her friend drinking until around 9.55pm when two men came into the park "screaming and shouting".

She said: "We looked over and asked them 'what's wrong?'

"Then they grabbed our bottle of rum, smashed it and used it to stab my friend."

The victim said she then began to film the men on her mobile phone hoping they would stop but when they realised, they began chasing her.

"They realised I recorded the lot and came after me, headbutting me and trying to get my phone which I didn't give up," she added.

"I then ran into Cowdrey McDonald's car park with one of the men chasing me, kicking my foot and trying to trip me over, but he failed.

"It has very badly affected us."

The woman added that she did not know the two men involved in the attack.

Chief inspector Rob Huddelston, district commander for Colchester, said: "I want to reassure people that the skate park and the nearby Castle Park are safe areas for people to visit and enjoy.

"I would also urge people with any information about the incident to please contact our detectives."

The main suspect has been described as being a white man with brown hair, around 5ft 11in tall and wearing a grey jumper.

Anyone with any information that could aid the investigation is asked to contact Colchester CID on 101, quoting reference 42/162422/19.