A social worker was stabbed in the eye with a pen by one of her clients in a council building.

The attack, which happened on August 11, left the social worker seriously injured and in need of immediate medical attention.

A witness to the aftermath of the attack, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: “I heard screaming coming from one of the rooms in the reception area. One of my children then shouted ‘mum, that lady has blood on her face’.

“We could see a woman through the small window in the door – she was covering her eyes and blood was all over her face and arms.

“I told my children not to look. I couldn’t see who had done this to her, but it was horrific. We didn’t know if we were safe.”

A spokesman for Croydon police said: “Police were called at 3.30pm on Tuesday, August 11, to an address in Morland Road to reports that a woman had been stabbed near the eye.

“An 18-year-old woman has been bailed to return to a south London police station later this month.”