THE bruising and swelling on Maria Baynham's face is the painful result of a cowardly attack by three young thugs.

Seventy-nine year-old Mrs Baynham was set upon and punched in the face in a quiet Newport street last Wednesday evening, as she returned home after posting a birthday card to a friend.

But she fought back, remembering self defence techniques she learned decades ago while living in Singapore where her husband was stationed with the Royal Navy.

After she managed to elbow her attacker in the stomach, the trio ran off, hurling abuse at their victim as they went.

Bloodied but unbowed, Mrs Baynham - who had no money or valuables on her -managed to get home and has decided to tell her story in the hope of warning others, and to try to bring her attackers to justice.

"It was about quarter to nine at night, not quite dark, and I was walking back from the postbox," said Mrs Baynham, who lives in the Allt-yr-yn area of Newport.

"I was coming up Ridgeway Hill, and there was nobody about. I thought I heard someone behind me and looked, but didn't see anyone.

"Then someone came around the side of me to my right and hit me in the face. They must have been hiding just off the road.

"There was a girl and two boys, I'd say 16-20 years old. She was wearing a red hat and had blonde hair sticking out from under it.

"She'd said "go on, give her one" to the one who hit me, but I managed to thump him in the stomach with my elbow.

"I'd learned basic karate when I was in Singapore many years ago, and I'm a tough old bird. I was going to come up around with my left hand to give him a 'fourpenny one' but they ran off by the (Ridgeway) community centre, and the girl was swearing.

"I don't know how I got home. My thumb hurt and my nose was bleeding, but I used to be a nurse so I knew what to do."

Not wanting to "make a fuss" Mrs Baynham did not contact the police until today after a relative visited and saw her black eye.

"I was frightened, nothing like this has ever happened to me, and I don't want it to happen to anyone else," she said.

Gwent Police has since appealed for information on the assault.

A spokeswoman said: "The suspects are being described as two white males approximately 18-25 years old, both wearing blue tracksuits and white trainers.

"A female is also said to have been involved, she has been described as slightly younger than the males, with blonde hair, wearing a dark blue jacket and red hat."

Anyone with information is asked to call Gwent Police on 101 quoting log number GWP – 20160404-0142.