A HOMEOWNER who challenged youths near a house ended up needing medical treatment after an unknown liquid was sprayed in her eyes.

Laurence Cawley

A VIGILANT neighbour who challenged youths acting suspiciously ended up needing medical treatment after an unknown liquid was sprayed in her eyes.

The victim, who is in her 40s, has been left “extremely shaken” by the incident, which happened in Lancaster Avenue, Bury St Edmunds, at about 7.50pm yesterday.

A spokeswoman for the police said the victim had seen two youths acting suspiciously outside a house in the road and challenged them as to what they were doing there.

They said they were trying to get their ball back from a garden and had damaged a fence.

One of the boys was on top of a roof, so she told them she didn't believe their story.

It was at this point that one of the boys sprayed an unknown liquid in her face and they both left towards Baldwin Avenue.

“The woman suffered pain and discomfort to her eyes which was treated at the scene by paramedics, and was extremely shaken,” the police spokeswoman said.

The first boy was white, in his late teens, 5ft 3in tall, of slim build with short dark hair and was wearing a dark jumper. He spoke with an Irish accent.

The second was also white, in his late teens, 5ft 7in tall, of slim build with fairer hair than the first male and was wearing a lighter coloured top than the first male. He also spoke with an Irish accent.

Anybody with information should contact Pc Pat O'Donnell on 01284 774100 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.