A DRIVER has recalled the moment ‘like out of a movie’ when he helped a woman who was stabbed at a house near Chorley.

Alison Cowley, 50, was left with stab wounds to her abdomen outside an address in Moody Lane, Mawdesley, after an attack last Wednesday. Police were called at 5.45pm.

They are also investigating reports of a 15-year-old girl having petrol thrown over her. She was not physically harmed.

Police have issued an appeal after the incident and are hunting for John Cowley, 63, who is wanted in connection with the attack.

A police spokesman confirmed he has not been found.

Driver Robert Newbiggin was bringing his 15-year-old daughter, Mercedes, home when he saw the drama unfold.

He said: “We had our windows open and heard some people shouting and it looked like this man was throwing water over a girl who was about the same age as my daughter.

“We just laughed it off but then she swore at him and then we could smell petrol and my daughter saw the petrol can in the man’s hand and he was throwing it over her.

“I just thought we have got to do something but as a parent I was thinking I did not want to put my daughter at risk.

“So we parked further up the road then all we heard was a car we drove past blew up.”

The pair thought that the girl had been involved in the incident.

Mr Newbiggin said: “I am still in shock over it all.

“I looked in the mirror and there was a woman walking and crouching in the road and there was blood coming out of her.

“Then I spotted the girl trying to help her along.

“I shouted to them to get in the car as we did not know where the man was.

“The girl was covered in petrol so she was like a bomb ready to go off in the car.

“We managed to drive away.”

Mr Newbiggin, a boxing trainer helped to treat Mrs Cowley by putting towels on her abdomen and she was taken to hospital.

He added: “The look that man gave me as we drove past made me think that I was next.

“We were in danger. I took a risk with my daughter but looking back it was the right thing to do as we got told we saved her life.

“It was one of the most horrifying things you could imagine and it was like a scene from a film.

“There was still some blood on the back seat of the car.”

Mr Cowley, 63, is described as white, 5ft 8in tall, with grey hair. He was last seen wearing a light blue polo shirt and dark blue jeans.

Detective Supt Claire McEnery, of Lancashire Police, said: “We are continuing to work hard to trace John Cowley and to speak to him about what are very serious offences.

“We believe that this was a targeted attack.” and while we would ask that if anyone sees John they do not approach him but report sightings to the police we do not believe that there is any significant on-going risk to the wider public

“I would urge anyone who has seen him, or a man matching his description, to contact police immediately.

“I would also urge John himself to hand himself in if he sees this appeal.”

Police are appealing for information leading to his whereabouts and advising people not to approach him.

Anyone with information can contact police on 101 quoting log 1091 of October 10 or in an emergency or for an immediate sighting call 999.

Alternatively you can contact independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.