A nine-year-old girl has undergone surgery for facial injuries after a yob threw a beer bottle and smashed the window of the car in which she was travelling, showering her in glass.

Keen gymnast Abbie Keers could have been blinded by the mindless act which happened when she was a front seat passenger in her grandmothers silver Fiat Punto at 10.30pm on Valentines Day in Stanley, County Durham.

Her mother was in the back of the car with Abbie's young sister who was poorly and the family group were on their way to a walk-in medical centre.

As they drove along the A693 near the towns Asda, someone near a subway hurled a glass bottle against the car.

The front passenger window shattered, covering the little girl with glass. She suffered cuts to her forehead, nose, hands and around her right eye.
She was taken to hospital by ambulance and underwent plastic surgery.

Her grandmother Sandra Webb, a former police officer, said on Facebook: "Thanks for everyones kind comments abs is doin fine and in the rite place havin glass removed from her face and some plastic surgery again thanks wud also like to thank the kind motorist who stopped and helped."

Her mother Clare Webb said: "I'm really angry at whats happened as it was a mindless act and the glass was so close to Abbies right eye that surgeons said she was lucky not to have lost her sight in that eye."

Acting Chief Inspector Karen Naunton said: "This is a mindless act which has caused serious injury to a young girl."

If you witnessed this incident or have any information relating to it, please contact police on 101 quoting incident number DHM-14022014-0458.
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