This is the first picture of a woman left with serious burns after acid was thrown in her face when she answered her front door.

Tara Quigley, 28, has been left in a 'bad way' following the attack in Romford, Essex, her sister said.

Police are searching for the caller who knocked on the door and asked to speak to 'Michelle' on Tuesday night.

Half an hour later he returned and squirted an unidentified substance in her face when she answered again.

Tara's elder sister Tina, who lives with her at the terraced house said: 'She's very distressed at the moment.

'She's in a bad way. She's really not that great. About a third of her face was badly burned. She's finding it very tough and struggling to come to terms with it.

'It's really bad. We fear she's going to be left really badly damaged. I have been with her at the hospital ever since it happened. We just have no idea why anyone would want to do this.'

After the attack Miss Quigley managed to shut her door and rinse herself off with water while an ambulance was called.

She was then taken to a specialist burns unit, where police say she is in a stable condition.

A large stain is still visible on the door of the property following the attack. A neighbour said she heard 'shouting and crying' after the attack.

Attack: Tara's elder sister Tina said she is in a 'bad way' following the attack with burns to around a third of her face

The neighbour, who declined to be named, said: 'I had just had a shower and was about to go to bed.

'I didn't see anything. I heard the lady that was going into the hospital. I could hear them shouting or crying. I've lived here 50 years and I've never heard anything like that.'

They added: 'It sounded like she was grunting or calling out for somebody.'

Victim: Tara, 28, was attacked when she opened her frontdoor by a mystery attacker in Romford

Acid: The front door of the terraced property has been stained by the unidentified liquid which was thrown in the victim's face

Police descended on the scene a short while after the attack and used up to four vans to cordon off the road.

Detectives from Havering Borough are appealing for witnesses following the incident.

The suspect is described as a white, short, about 20 years old, wearing black clothing and spoke with a 'foreign' accent.

Officers said that they are keeping an 'open mind' regarding the motive.

Detective Constable Paul Swift from Romford CID said: 'This was a cowardly attack during which the victim suffered substantial injuries and I would appeal to anyone who may have witnessed this offence, seen a male loitering around the area before the incident occurred or has knowledge of this matter to come forward.'

Home: The terraced property in Romford which Tara shares with her sister Tina

Tags: Tara Quigley, Editors Choice