A mum has shared pictures of herself weeping 'tears of blood' after allegedly being beaten by a barmaid.
Anja Housden-Brooks, 40, suffered a broken nose, shattered cheekbones and a split tear duct in the attack on Saturday.
She says she was battered 'out of the blue' by a member of staff at a bar in Southend, Essex, after having drinks with pals.
The bar's owner refused to comment today, but Essex Police confirmed they are investigating an allegation of assault.
Anja, 40, said: "I was left concussed and in total shock, with blood streaming from my damaged tear duct.
"I've been sleeping like the dead all week, my front teeth are all caved in and my dentist thinks I'll lose at least one."
Mum-of-three Anja said she was running errands in Southend on Saturday evening when she bumped into a friend by chance.
She joined the pal who was meeting a group of friends at The Venue Bar and drank two gin and tonics.
"There was a wider group of about ten of us. We were laughing a joking and maybe being a bit loud - but no more than any other town centre bar on a Saturday evening," said Anja.
"A woman working behind the bar came over a couple of times and kept telling us to keep the noise down.
"In the end she singled me out and told me I would have to leave because I was being too noisy.
"I told her I'd done nothing wrong and stood my ground. She didn't like it all and kept giving me evil looks from behind the bar, but I just ignored her."
Anja says she left about 15 minutes later to return home.
"I admit that I did have a couple of choice words for her as I left," she says.
"As I reached the door of the bar, my face exploded in pain. This bar worker was raining punches on me.
"I begged her to stop, but she just kept hitting me. It was over in minutes, but felt like a lifetime."
Anja says she staggered into the street where a motorist took pity on her and drove her home.
She said: "This guy saw me slumped in a heap against the wall. I'm so grateful to him. He said I should go to hospital but I just wanted to be with my family."
Anja attended Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford the next day.
X-rays revealed fractures to her nose and one cheekbone.
At a follow up appointment, doctors discovered that in fact both cheekbones had been broken.
Anja stated: "They had to glue my tear duct back together to stop the bleeding.
"I've been to see my dentist, too, and the nerve's been damaged in one tooth. It's very wobbly and I've been warned to expect it to fall out any time."
A spokesperson for The Venue Bar said: "We've been advised by the police not to say anything."
In posts on Facebook the day after the alleged attack, the woman accused by Anja joked about having a 'funny night' and complained she had a 'sore hand'.
"Who wants to take me to dinner 2mora cos my hand still hurts an I can't feed myself x," the woman wrote.
Essex Police confirmed they had spoken to The Venue Bar's owner, and said: "We are investigating reports of an assault on a woman who suffered a fractured cheekbone and nose.
"Enquiries are ongoing. Anyone with any information should call Southend CID."
