Paint attack on baby boy

A vandal threw black paint over a seven-month-old baby after the child's father found his car being attacked near Kidderminster.

The baby boy needed hospital treatment to remove the black emulsion after the attack in Blakedown.

The callous attack happened at 7 last night outside the baby's home in Belbroughton Road.

The drama began when the father heard noises outside his home and went to investigate with the baby in his arms.

He discovered a youth smashing the windows of his Range Rover. The yob walked up towards the house and threw the contents of a can of black paint at the man and the baby while shouting abuse.

He then walked back to his car and drove away, leaving the baby boy completely covered by the paint.

His father, a man in his 40s, decided to seek medical treatment for the child, who was taken to the Alexandra Hospital, Redditch, where doctors and nurses checked to ensure the child had not swallowed any of the paint.

They managed to remove most of the paint, and the baby was released from hospital. The paint had not damaged his eyes.

West Mercia Police spokesman Lynne Masters said: "This was a very unusual incident and investigations are still continuing into the circumstances.

"We will be carrying out house-to-house inquiries.

"After paint was thrown over the child he was taken to hospital where doctors were able to remove the majority of the paint.

"The youth involved in the incident is thought to have made off in a dark-coloured Audi TT which contained another person.

"Damage to the victim's Range Rover car has been estimated at £200."

• Were you the family involved in this nasty attack or do you know them? Ring reporters on 01562 829500.

By Sue Smith