A MOTHER has spoken of her terror after she fought off a man who tried to attack her near a woodland as she walked to work late at night.

Emma Lanigan, from Ringland, was walking along Sterndale Bennett Road, towards the junction of Hendre Farm Drive, shortly before 10pm on Sunday night, when she was asked for a light by a man standing near the entrance to a wooded area.

But when she crossed the road to give him one, the man – whom she described as in his early 20s – grabbed her by the collar of her coat, and tried to pull her into the wood.

Thirty-year-old Ms Lanigan managed to push her attacker off, but in the scuffle which ensued she fractured her wrist and fell into some nearby brambles, bumping her head on a wooden post.

The mum-of-five said she was “hysterical” by the time police arrived.

“They had to pull me out of the thorns which were stuck in my head,” she said.

“It’s a secluded area and there is very little street light. Just before ten I was plunged into complete darkness, alone, and injured. I could barely breathe I was in such a state when they arrived.

“But unfortunately the man was long gone.”

Ms Lanigan was walking to meet a friend for a taxi share to RF Brooks, in Newport, when the attack occurred at 9.45pm. She was taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital following the incident.

She said she had a handbag with her but he had not tried to grab that.

The area was taped off by police after the attack.

A spokeswoman for Gwent Police described the attackers as “white, about 6ft tall, with short dark hair, and of a skinny build.”

Ms Lanigan added: “I just hope someone can identify him, and I want people in the area to be aware of what happened. There has been quite a lot of concern on Facebook.”

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting log 494 10/11/13.