A YOUNG gymnast has bounced back after she was scarred and almost blinded by a yob who threw a bottle at a moving car - by winning a silver medal in a competition.

Abbie Keers was showered with broken glass after the beer bottle was thrown at her grandmother’s car on the way to hospital with her little sister on Friday night.

The nine-year-old suffered cuts to her nose and above her eye and needed plastic surgery in the early hours of Saturday morning.

But yesterday, (Sunday, February 16) the brave youngster came second in a Sports for All competition at TyneMet College in Wallsend.

Her mother, Clare Webb, of East Stanley, County Durham, said: “She is not doing too badly. She competed and came second. I cannot believe it. We are so proud of her. She is amazing.”

Abbie trains Northern Hope Gymnastics Club in Birtley and is a pupil at East Stanley Primary School.

The incident happened when she was going to Shotley Bridge Hospital because her three-year-old sister, Lexi, was unwell, at around 10.30pm on Friday.

Abbie was dozing in the front of the Fiat Punto while her mother was in the back with her sister.

As they got to the A693 in Stanley, travelling from the roundabout near the library towards the Asda roundabout, someone threw a beer bottle, which hit the front passenger side window where Abbie was sitting.

Ms Webb said: “We were driving along and I did not know what had happened at first.

“There was a big explosion. It took a while to register what was happening.

“I jumped out of the car, came right around to Abbie and there was blood everywhere. She was screaming ‘my face, my face’.”

Abbie suffered gashes to her forehead, nose, hands and around her right eye when shards of glass became embedded in her face.

Police are investigating and the family hopes the public can help catch whoever was responsible.

Ms Webb added: “I have heard that there are people who are doing it on purpose, chucking stuff at cars for fun.

“Someone out there knows they have done it. It is an awful thing to do.”

Last night, Durham Police urged people to come forward.

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.”