A YOUNG woman who spent the millennium celebrations resting at home after a flying bottle fractured her skull said today: "I'm just glad it wasn't worse."

Caroline Parker, 22, of Harwood Street, Darwen, needed emergency surgery and had a metal plate inserted in to her head at Blackburn Royal Infirmary after an incident at the Borough Arms, in Exchange Street, Blackburn.

Caroline, who got engaged to her boyfriend Chris Dydra on Christmas Day, was discharged from hospital on New Year's Eve.

She said: "We'd just finished our drinks and we were heading for the door when all hell broke loose. My fianc Chris told me to get down on the floor, then I was hit on the head. I don't know if it was a bottle or a glass but I fell to the floor.

"Luckily an off-duty paramedic and nurse were in the pub and they helped stop me losing a lot of blood. I had never been to the Borough before in my life and I'll never be going back there again. "The doctors told me that I was hit in the strongest part of my skull, and I was lucky it wasn't any closer to my eye.

"I'd planned to go to a few friends' parties for the Millennium but I had to stop at home. Everyone was shaken up, but we had a party at home with fireworks. I'm a bit fed up that I missed out on all the parties, but at least I was with my friends and family.

"I'm supposed to be starting a new sales job tomorrow in Darwen but I've been told to take it easy."

Caroline's mum Lynda, 44, said: "It's not safe to go anywhere these days. Caroline doesn't go out that much, and then something like this happens. She's got to have that metal plate in her head for the rest of her life."

A 31-year-old Knuzden man was arrested on suspicion of assault and has been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Anyone with information should contact Blackburn CID on 01254 51212.

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