A POLICE manhunt was underway last night after a woman was glassed in the shoulder by her former partner.Officers scoured the towns of South Woodham Ferrers, Witham and Colchester in their efforts to locate the suspect, who they said had sustained a wound to his leg.

A POLICE manhunt was underway last night after a woman was glassed in the shoulder by her former partner.

Officers scoured the towns of South Woodham Ferrers, Witham and Colchester in their efforts to locate the suspect, who they said had sustained a wound to his leg.

The incident began at around 3.45am yesterdaywhen a woman in her 30s was attacked with a broken glass by a former partner at a house in Treebeard Copse, South Woodham Ferrers, near Chelmsford.

She was taken to Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford where she was treated for the injury and later discharged.

However the man responsible fled from the scene and police appealed for anyone who had seen him to come forward.

The suspect was seen at 7.45am when he asked directions in Riverside Walk in Witham.

The woman he spoke to reported that he appeared to have blood on his thigh where he may have been stabbed.

The man is believed to have then travelled to Marks Tey railway station, where he took a cab to Colchester where he was seen at around 9am.

Police said that although anybody seeing the man should not approach him, he was not thought to be dangerous.

Anyone spotting him should contact them immediately, an Essex Police spokesman said.

"It is not believed that he is any danger to the general community, but as a precaution we would ask that any sightings of the man are reported to the police and that no direct approaches are made," the spokesman added.

The man is described as being in his late 20s to early 30s, with light jeans, a t-shirt, and long dark hair in a pony tail.

Colchester police can be contacted on 01206 762212.