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A young woman suffered horrific injuries after having corrosive liquid thrown in her face in a quiet seaside town yesterday.

The pretty 22-year-old victim was waiting at a bus stop when a man suddenly squirted the acid-like substance from a Lucozade bottle.

Eyewitnesses said she ran screaming across the road as the liquid burned into her skin and hair following the morning attack.

Local residents ran from their homes to pour water over the victim’s head and body in a desperate bid to wash away the mystery substance.

She was rushed to hospital suffering from “life-changing” burns to her face and neck after the terrifying incident in Lowestoft, Suffolk .

Cops drafted in a helicopter in a desperate search for the attacker and two hours later they arrested a 38-year-old man on suspicion of assault nearby.

They refused to say if the suspect was known to the victim and he was last night still being quizzed by detectives.

Jamie Gregg, 20, who lives nearby said she was asleep when she was woken up by the woman’s screams.

She said: “It was really loud. I heard her yelling, ‘Get me water’. I looked out of the window and saw her running across the road away from the bus stop.

“The poor girl had her head to her side and was holding her shoulder length blonde hair as if she was trying to keep it away from her face.

“She stopped outside the pub and there were several people trying to help her. Someone yelled out to bring her a chair.

“I quickly got dressed and ran out with a chair for her and a glass of water while someone else brought out water in a jug.

“She was calling out for her mum and saying, ‘All my face is burning’ as she splashed the water on her face.

“It looked like the liquid had gone on the right side of her face. Her injuries were horrendous. Her skin was all pink and peeling off.”

Miss Gregg’s partner Jamie Silverman, 33, said: “She was apparently standing at the bus stop with a couple of elderly people.

“She was minding her own business when this guy just came up and chucked something in her face before running away. It is just an awful thing to happen.”

Local resident Yvonne Stewart, 75, added: “I was getting up when I heard this really weird screaming.

“I looked out of the window and saw this woman jumping around with her hands to her head.

“There were various people around who were trying to help her and others were coming across the road.

“I saw someone pour water over her head and I thought then that it might have been some sort of acid attack. It is normally quiet around here. We are not used to anything like this.”

CCTV cameras outside the nearby Carlton pub captured part of the attack and police seized the footage.

The bus stop where the attack took place remained cordoned off as forensic tests were carried out and any remaining traces of the liquid washed away.

A Suffolk Police spokeswoman said: “Although the substance has not yet been identified it is believed to have been of a corrosive nature.

“The woman, who is aged in her 20s has sustained injuries to her face and neck.

“A 38-year old-man was detained and arrested by officers in the town on suspicion of assault.”