SURGEONS are battling to save a businessman's sight after he was sprayed in the face with ammonia during a street robbery.

The robber sprayed the ammonia into the 49-year-old man's eyes as he approached his workplace in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, yesterday morning.

He grabbed the briefcase from the man, believed to work at the BP offices in Picktree Lane.

The briefcase did not contain any cash, but the robber ignored a box being carried by the businessman, which did contain an unknown amount of money.

Recovering at Sunderland Infirmary eye unit, the man has not yet been told the extent of the damage to his eyes.

Police say he was attacked as he went up a passage leading to the side door of the office, next to the Picktree Lane post office. The attacker emerged from a lane where he had been hiding.

He squirted what is thought to be ammonia into the victim's face, and after a brief struggle, escaped with the briefcase.

The attacker is described as 5ft 10in, wearing a blue top and trousers, a baseball cap and sunglasses.

Appealing for witnesses, Detective Sergeant Terry McCabe said he hoped the time of day, 9.45am, and the location would bring someone forward.

He said: "It is one of the busiest roads in Chester-le-Street, and at that time there must have been plenty of people passing through.

"Even if they didn't see the robbery they may have seen a man running off with a briefcase.

"We also want to hear from any parents taking their children to school down Hadrian Avenue who might have seen someone acting suspiciously."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Chester-le-Street CID on 0191-388 4311 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.