A police officer narrowly avoided "life changing injuries" after being sprayed in the face with bleach, the Chief Constable has said.

A man has been charged with attempting to cause grievous bodily harm after the officer was allegedly spayed with the noxious liquid at a property in Folkestone.

The alleged assault occurred after officers attended a report of a disturbance in Black Bull Road on Friday May 29.

The officer received medical attention from the ambulance service at the scene.

It is understood that the liquid caused irritation to her skin, but no permanent damage.

At the police performance and delivery board meeting on Thursday, the chief constable said that the officer was lucky to avoid serious injury.

He said: "Only because the officer was wearing glasses when they were sprayed with a noxious substance which turned out to be bleach, that could have been very very nasty, if not life-changing injuries into the officer's eyes, but the glasses prevented that very serious injury."

Lee Mills, of Black Bull Road, Folkestone, was charged with attempting to cause grievous bodily harm following the incident.

The 51-year-old appeared before Medway Magistrates' Court on Monday June 1, and is scheduled to appear at Canterbury Crown Court on Monday June 29.

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