A man has suffered "life-changing" chemical burns after he was attacked for no reason on his doorstep.

The 56-year-old man had gone down to collect his post from the communal entrance to a block of flats in Bramble Road, Witham shortly before 10.45am today when he encountered the two men banging on the door.

Following a brief exchange the two men threw the unknown liquid, which was in a glass bottle, over the man and ran off.

He has suffered injuries to his hands and face consistent with the use of a harmful liquid.

He was subsequently taken by ambulance to Broomfield Hospital for treatment.

His injuries are not believed to be life threatening but are potentially life changing.

Detective Inspector Leighton Hammett, of Braintree CID, said: "The information that we have currently gathered suggests that the victim was not the intended target of this attack.

"Unfortunately he appears to have been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"The two suspects are described as a white man and a black man and if anyone saw them, either in the area prior to this attack or afterwards, we would urgently like to speak to them.”

Police are conducting investigations at the scene but a cordon initially put in place in the road has now been released.

Anyone with information about the attack is asked to call Essex Police at Braintree CID on 101 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.