A WOMAN today described how a quiet country walk with her dogs turned into a nightmare when she was attacked and knocked unconscious by a mountain bike rider.

The assault left Barbara Spence, 61, of Colne, with a dislocated shoulder and her face battered and bruised.

She was walking her seven Pekinese dogs with a female friend along a track near Lake Burwain, Foulridge, when the bike rider came racing towards them.

"He had his head down and was really going at a speed so I asked him to slow down because of the dogs," said Barbara, who works on the community care telephone system for Pendle Council.

"He just kept going so I asked him again. He had just gone past me when he jumped off his bike and thumped me on the side of my face. I fell down and I must have been unconscious for two or three minutes. Everything went black and I couldn't get up. "My friend managed to help me up and we managed to drive back home but it was very difficult. I've never known pain like it before in my life. My arm was just hanging there and I was crying all the way home. I walk my dogs a lot and I've never come across anyone like that before."

Barbara was treated at Burnley General Hospital before being discharged. She was given a sick note for four weeks and the other woman was left shaken but unhurt.

Police said the bike rider was white, aged about 40 to 45, 5ft 11in, with a pale, gaunt complexion and short, brown hair. He was wearing dark clothing including a black waist-length jacket, and riding a black mountain bike.

The attack happened at 6pm on Sunday on a track running from Lake Burwain sailing club towards the Barrowford side entrance to the Mile Tunnel on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Anyone with any information about the attack is asked to contact Colne CID on 01282 472441.