A COACH trip organiser is recovering at home in the North-East after being stabbed in the arm with a pen during a visit to Blackpool.

Cynthia Bell, 66, was sitting alone on the coach when three people, a man and two young women, got on board.

Mrs Bell, from Spennymoor, County Durham, was confronted by the man and as she raised her hands to defend herself he plunged the pen into her right arm, below the elbow.

The man ran off and she waited 15 minutes for paramedics to arrive to remove the pen.

Mrs Bell, who has organised trips to Blackpool for 40 years and was helping her husband’s coach firm, is now recovering at home and said she was “fine”.

“The engine was running to keep the air conditioning on and my fear was they were going to try and drive off with the coach.

“They were mouthing off when the man just picked up the pen and stabbed me.

“If I hadn’t put my arms up, it could have gone in my face or my chest – I don’t know what would have happened.

“I think it’s disgusting – what right do they have to invade anybody’s space?

“I had never seen him before in my life.”

The attack happened at about 5pm on Sunday, August 24. Lancashire Police are investigating.

Detective Sergeant Mark Dickinson from Blackpool CID said: “Significant force must have been used by the offender who stabbed her.

“She was lucky to have escaped without serious blood loss or any nerve damage.”

The male is described as white, 6ft, of stocky build, in his late teens or early 20s, with short dark hair.

One of the women is described as white, wearing a pink top with a floral pattern. She had a pram or pushchair and walked with a limp.

The other woman is described as white with blonde hair, wearing a cream jumper. She had a tattoo on the right side of her lower stomach on display.

Anyone with information is asked to call Lancashire Police on 101, quoting log number 0979 or 24 August 2014, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555-111.