The victim of a nasty attack may be scarred for life after he was sprayed in the face with an unknown substance and beaten with baseball bats by a gang in Chelmsford.

A man in his 20s and a man in his 40s were near the BP petrol station, in Baddow Road, at about 12.50am on Sunday, when a dark car pulled up next to them.

Four black men got out, assaulted the men with baseball bats and sprayed them in their faces with an unknown substance.

The victims were able to get away, but one of them suffered potentially life-changing injuries to his face.

Detective sergeant Dan Smith, from Chelmsford CID, called it a “nasty attack”.

He added: “This incident will understandably cause concern to local residents but I want to reassure them that these types of attacks are very rare and we believe it to be an isolated incident.”

Anyone with information should contact Ds Smith on 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.