A man was sprayed in the face with a substance that left him with blisters in a New Year’s Eve attack.

The victim, aged 40, was sitting inside a vehicle in Harcourt Road, Bushey, at around 9.30pm when he was approached by a male who knocked on the window.

After opening it he was "sprayed in the face with an unknown substance, which caused blistering", Herts Police said, before running off.

No items were stolen and the victim was taken to hospital.

An East of England Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called at 9.36pm on December 31 to Harcourt Road in Bushey with reports that a man had had a substance sprayed in his face.

“An ambulance and ambulance officer were sent to the scene and, after assessing the patient, decided no critical care resource was required.

“The man was transported to Watford General Hospital for further assessment and treatment.” 

A police probe has been launched and the spokesperson said it is currently unknown whether it was a random attack. Enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances.

A local resident, who spotted police near the shops in Harcourt Road, told the Watford Observer they were "horrified" that such an attack happened so close to home.

Anyone with information has been asked to report it via 101, quoting reference 41/4/23.