A VICIOUS racial attack on a woman in a pub has left her needing a metal plate in her face.

Victoria Scott, 56, of Chester-le-Street, had been in the town's Red Lion pub on December 23 when she was assaulted.

She was left with injuries so severe she had to undergo two operations, one to insert a metal plate to hold her shattered cheekbone together and another to save the sight in her right eye.

Miss Scott said the attack happened as she waited for a friend in the pub between 5.30pm and 6pm, when a man in his twenties tried to talk to her.

She said: "I wasn't interested, so I told him to clear off. He started using horrible names."

At that point, an acquaintance in the pub told her not to take any notice and said Miss Scott could sit with him. But she told the man she would be all right and went to sit down.

A few seconds later she was attacked.

"He just hit me. It was just such a surprise," she said. "I fell down and I think he started kicking my head."

Miss Scott is still in danger of losing the sight in her right eye and has been told by doctors she could suffer a brain haemorrhage.

Anyone with information is asked contact Chester-le-Street police on 0191-388 4311.