A MAN suffered life-changing injuries after acid was thrown in his face during a daylight street robbery in Dawlish town centre.

Two males, wearing balaclavas, are thought to have got away with thousands of pounds after attacking a Costcutter manager in The Strand as he made his way to a bank with the weekend’s takings on Monday afternoon.

It is believed they sprayed an ammonia-like substance in his face and then fled the scene with their haul.

The casualty was helped by staff in a nearby opticians before being taken to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital in a police car.

A police spokesman said on Monday the victim was in a ‘serious condition’.

He said: ‘Early reports are that the victim had an unidentified liquid, believed to be ammonia, squirted into his face during the incident.’

Police were out in force searching the area and sealed off Lawn Hill and Orchard Gardens.

The offenders were said to be wearing balaclavas and black clothing with one wearing a grey hoodie.

They are believed to have run off in the direction of Queen Street towards Strand Hill.

Det Insp Mike Jones yesterday said: ‘This was a shocking robbery at a time when The Strand was busy with shoppers going about their daily business and police are appealing to anyone who may have any information that could help them to identify the people responsible for this despicable crime.’

Optometrist John Campbell was working at Bill’s Opticians when the distressed victim rushed in at about 2.15pm.

Mr Campbell explained: ‘He was smelling of ammonia and said a man in a balaclava had jumped out of the side street by the phone shop and sprayed him in the face. He said a second man was also involved and they ran off with his shop takings.

‘He was blistered across his eyelids and nose. I have never seen anyone in such agony and he was worried as he had a heart condition.’

Mr Campbell continued: ‘I administered first aid for a good half-hour by washing out his eyes with the help of a colleague. We have probably saved the sight in the left eye and hopefully the right, but I could see the cornea was burned off.

‘It is essential in these cases to get the victim to hospital as soon as possible so he was taken to the RD&E by police car.

‘The victim was very lucky it happened so close to our shop. I don’t like to think how he would have been if we had not been on hand.’

A spokesman for South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) said: ‘We received a call at approximately 2.40pm reporting that a male had been assaulted close to The Strand in Dawlish. First aid was given at the scene by a member of the public. An ambulance was allocated and was on route but was then stood down by police.’

A spokesman for Costcutter said: ‘This is a terrible attack and our thoughts are with our colleague and his family at this very distressing time. We continue to support the police with their investigation and would urge anyone with any information about this incident to call the police on 101.’

Police say two men approached a shop employee in his 50s near the junction with Lawn Hill and The Strand. They confirmed he was carrying the weekend takings to be banked when he was sprayed in the face with a ‘substance’ before the cash was stolen.

Both offenders fled from the scene on foot, running up Lawn Hill, turning left on to High Street before turning right again and running up Orchard Gardens. They were followed by one or two young men on push bikes.

The runaways both had their faces covered with either scarves or balaclavas and hooded tops. Both were wearing dark clothing.

The victim has since undergone treatment on his ‘seriously damaged eyes’ which had been burnt by the liquid sprayed at him.

Police revealed the casualty had ‘some sight back in one eye’ – but it was too early to say what the lasting damage or impact would be on his vision.

Officers later searched the area, secured CCTV footage and obtain witness statements from people who were in the area at the time of the incident.

Police want to be contacted by anyone who was in the area at the time who saw the offenders at the scene or on the route they followed after the attack.

Officers are appealing for witnesses and any information to help locate the two suspects.

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting log number 408 of January 30.