A man who had acid thrown in his face at a secluded beauty spot may have known or been familiar with his attacker, the MEN understands.
Horror unfolded at about 8.15pm on Sunday night on the small car park next to Ogden Reservoir, in Newhey, Rochdale, when the man in his 30s had the substance thrown at him.
He was taken to hospital with injuries to his face and arm, which are serious but not life-threatening. He remains in hospital.
READ MORE: Man taken to hospital after suspected acid attack
Police cordoned off the area on Ogden Lane until this afternoon (December 20) as an investigation got underway and a team of officers from Greater Manchester Police's tactical aid unit carried out a search of the open land around the crime scene.
The car park is next to a small number of cottages opposite the former Spring Mill in a very small village.
One woman, who had been visiting her daughter in the village, told the MEN: "We've heard there was an acid attack.
"It's not the sort thing you expect in a lovely country location like this. It's awful."
The MEN understands that one line of inquiry is that the victim was known to his attacker.
Detectives do not believe it was a random assault.
Officers were turning back cars attempting access to the village - unless they were residents - and to the Bulls Head put on Lane Bottom, which is about 500 yards from the scene of the attack.
Meanwhile, 'risk-reduction' experts appeared to bag up some items for examination.
In a statement, a GMP spokesperson said: "Officers were called to a report of an assault on Ogden Lane in Newhey just after 8.15pm last night (19 December 2021).
"A man in his 30s had a substance, suspected to be acid, thrown in his face.
"Emergency services attended and the man was taken to hospital where he remains with injuries to his arm and face.
"The injuries are not believed to be life-threatening and he remains in hospital. An investigation is ongoing and a scene is currently in place whilst officers carry out multiple lines of enquiry."
