A woman has been attacked with bleach in front of her family by a group of youths she had asked to be quiet during a showing of the new Harry Potter film.

It happened as the woman, her husband and two children ate in a restaurant after leaving the Vue Cinema on Kirkstall Road in Leeds on Sunday.

It is feared that the 46-year-old, who suffered burns, may have permanent damage to her eyes, police said.

She had asked a group of five or six youths to stop talking during the film.

West Yorkshire Police said the same group shouted abuse at the family as they left the cinema.

The family then went to Frankie and Benny's restaurant, where two of the youths came in and threw the bleach on to the woman's head and back.

They ran away and got into a waiting car.

'Totally unprovoked'

The woman was taken to Leeds General Infirmary where she received treatment for burns.

She has since been released, but is being assessed for any signs of permanent eye damage.

Det Insp Richard Baildon of West Yorkshire Police said: "This was a completely unwarranted attack on a mother out with her family, the consequences of which could have been much worse.

"It was a deliberate act designed to cause pain and injury and it was totally unprovoked and unnecessary."

Police described the attackers as a light-skinned, mixed-race male, aged about 19 and of athletic build, and a "fat" Asian boy, aged about 14.

The driver of the car was described as white, aged 17 to 18, with light-coloured crew-cut hair.

A black girl, aged about 14, was also with the group, police said.