A nurse was today facing a six-hour operation to try to save her sight after suffering horrific injuries in the Lidget Green disturbances.

Julie Cook was left with horrendous facial wounds after getting caught in the crossfire during the explosion of trouble on Easter Sunday.

The 38-year-old was hit full in the face as a brick was thrown through her car window by yobs - who then decided to chase after her.

Bleeding and in fear for her life, she managed to steer her car to safety, even though she couldn't see properly.

And today she was having reconstructive surgery at Bradford Royal Infirmary to repair the damage to her face and hopefully save the sight in her right eye.

Miss Cook, who lives in Derbyshire, was only making a brief visit to Bradford to deliver a birthday present to her eight-year-old niece in Allerton.

She got lost after her normal route out of the city was sealed off by police because of the escalating street violence, and found herself at the junction of Great Horton Road and Horton Grange Road when her white Isuzu Trooper car was targeted by the crowd of yobs.

Today her mother, who lives in Rotherham, relived the trauma and described speaking to her terrified daughter on her mobile phone while she waited for help. Mrs Florence Cook said: "She was absolutely petrified. As she turned right she was aware of a crowd of people shouting and she got a brick in her face.

"These men chased her while she was in her car, they could see she was just a woman on her own. She could hardly see where she was going, but she had to get out of there to save her life.

"For an hour, police wouldn't let the ambulance go through to her, and in the end she had to flag one down."

Today Julie's family were hoping surgeons could save her sight.

"There's a doubt whether her sight will be restored," Mrs Cook said. "Other people have had property ruined, but her life is in ruins."

She will now have to spend her birthday tomorrow in hospital and has had to cancel a riding holiday she had planned for this week.

Detective Superintendent Phil Sedgwick, who is leading the hunt for the attackers, said: "Ambulances sometimes won't go in unless they are protected by police. Had they known it was so serious, I'm sure they would have got there quicker. In the confusion, communications got lost."

Of the assault, he said: "I think this is the worst incident that happened on that night. Julie saw a group of 20 men but she has no idea if they were white, black or Asian and we have no descriptions.

"I understand some people came to her assistance, but she declined and eventually flagged down a passing ambulance.

"The loss of her sight is a possibility. It's tragic because she was just visiting Bradford and she has been caught up in the crossfire.

"There is no justification for anyone doing anything to her as she has not done anything wrong, she was just driving along the road. We'd like anyone who saw this incident to get in touch with us."

Other drivers also came under attack on Sunday night at the same junction, including a 62-year-old Allerton woman - who does not want to be named - who had a large hammer thrown through the rear window of her car at 10.40pm, and a 52-year-old woman from Wibsey, whose Ford Fiesta was attacked by Asian men with baseball bats while she was inside.

Information can be passed to police on 0845 6060606 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.