A young woman feared acid was being chucked at her after getting catcalled and harassed by three men pursuing her in a pick-up truck.

Police are investigating a “suspicious incident” which happened along James Whatman Way and Royal Engineers Road in Maidstone.

Laura, who works in the civil service, says she was followed and harassed by a driver and two passengers in a white pickup truck.

“They were so unfazed by it,” she told KentOnline. “Catcalling has happened to me before, but this was a step too far.

“They even slowed down to follow me. I wasn’t walking very fast so they started to hold up traffic.

“It was the middle of the day. I don’t think people realised what was going on.”

The 26-year-old was walking along Royal Engineers Road after working out at her local gym.

As she neared Maidstone Library, the lights on the roundabout turned red.

“There was quite a long queue – they were at the front and had put their hazards on,” she explained.

“I thought that they had broken down. As I walked past they started whistling and catcalling me.

“It was your typical expressions, like ‘phwoar’ and ‘go on girl’. Then it started to get more sexual and I asked them to stop.”

The van continued to move slowly around the roundabout and the men began to shout abuse.

Laura added: “I don’t normally stand up for myself, but I got really annoyed. I told them to f*** off.

“Then the guy in the middle leant out and threw water at me.

“I was really worried as I thought it could have been acid. He then chucked the bottle which skimmed me.”

It appeared the van was pulling into a nearby bus stop, so Laura turned and ran into the library on James Whatman Way.

“I just burst out crying,” she said. “I called my partner and he calmed me down.

“The library manager was lovely. She took me into an office and sat with me while I called 101. She even offered to walk me home.”

Laura has since put out an appeal on social media asking anyone who saw the incident or has CCTV to come forward.

It was flooded with dozens of supportive comments.

One person said: “I am staggered to read this – and in the daytime, too. Hope you're okay.”

Another added: “This really is appalling Laura and I hope you're ok, I can't imagine what sort of pathetic apologies for men would think such behaviour was acceptable.

“I hope the police find them and as others have suggested there may be CCTV on the flats or library that may have picked something up?”

The 26-year-old also received messages from several women who had similar experiences.

“I was so shaken the last thing going through my head was to film it or get the registration,” she added.

“I walk on a main road to feel safer – now I feel the opposite. You just can’t win.”

A spokesman from the police said: “Officers are investigating a suspicious incident in James Whatman Way, Maidstone, which is reported to have happened from around 2.45pm on Friday, May 3.

“It is alleged the occupants of a white pick-up truck used inappropriate and abusive language towards a female pedestrian.

“Water and a plastic bottle were also reportedly thrown in her direction. Enquiries are ongoing.”