An Army cadet suffered burns in an unprovoked attack after selling poppies for Remembrance Day.

The 15-year-old boy was waiting at a bus stop in his camouflage uniform when a man holding an aerosol can and cigarette lighter approached him.

He then sprayed the terrified boy with blazing fumes before walking off without saying a word.

An Army Cadet suffered burns in an unprovoked attack after selling poppies for Remembrance Day (file pic)

The cadet, who was wearing his camouflaged uniform, suffered minor burns to his face and singed hairs on his face and right forearm as he waited for a bus by the by the Manchester Art Gallery, pictured

The cadet suffered minor burns to his face and singed hairs on his face and right forearm.

Police are keeping an open mind about what motivated the attack in Manchester city centre on Saturday.

The attacker, who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, was described as black or Asian, 5ft 8in tall and wearing a dark hooded top.

He was last seen walking away from the bus stop by the Manchester Gallery opposite George Street around 6pm.

‘This is an absolutely appalling attack on a young man who was raising money to help remember all those who gave their lives fighting bravely for their country,’ said Detective Inspector Liam Boden from Greater Manchester Police.

‘Given the initial description we have of the offender, it may be that he was under the influence of something but whatever his motivation, his violent actions could have scarred this young man for life.

‘It is pure luck that he did not sustain more serious burns to his face and body.

‘Understandably both he and his family are in a state of total shock and cannot believe someone would do this.

‘We need to find who ever is responsible for this crime and I would therefore appeal to anyone who has information.’

The offender, described as black or Asian, 5ft 8in tall and wearing a dark hooded top, walked off from the bus stop in Manchester city centre without saying a word (file picture)

He added: ‘This happened at a very busy time in the city centre, near a main bus route, and there could be lots of people who saw this man staggering around.’

Meanwhile, supermarket chain Morrisons faced calls for a boycott last week after claims an 89-year-old war veteran was forced to sell poppies outside its store in the cold.

Customer Veronica Roach said she was shopping in the Taunton branch when she became concerned about the elderly man – later identified as Burma veteran Bill Daw – when temperatures fell to around 14C.

She said his hands were ‘freezing’ in the cold but when she challenged the manager, he told her there was no room for the Royal British Legion collector inside because of a promotional stand. He suggested Mr Daw should ‘wear a warmer coat’.

A store spokesman described the matter as a ‘misunderstanding’ and claimed Mr Daw had chosen to stand outside.

But Morrisons was eventually forced to apologise after the story was reported in the press, and went viral on social media.

A spokesman said: ‘We are very sorry about how this misunderstanding has looked. We will of course donate to the British Legion, and will be making a special gift to both Veronica and our 89-year-old veteran.

‘We spoke to the British Legion this morning and the store have removed a number of items in the foyer to enable them to be inside the store.’

Mr Daw is the standard bearer for the Taunton branch of the Burma Star Association. As a 19-year-old private, he helped form a guard when the Japanese surrendered in Rangoon.