A TERRIFIED elderly widow injured in a street attack said she is still scared to leave her house.

The 78-year-old, who lives in Abertillery, suffered a broken nose, elbow and wrist and bruises to her hands and face after the attack by a youth in July.

She spent five days in Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny, following the incident.

Yesterday she spoke publicly about the attack for the first time, saying her nerves are "shattered", and that she is worried about leaving her home alone.

But the brave pensioner, who is too distressed to be named, says she is determined to make herself go out.

"Otherwise it means that he has won," she said.

The widow, whose husband died four years ago and who has no children, said she was walking to Tesco in the town centre at around 10am on July 23 when the attack occurred.

Today police told the Argus they have so far had no leads into the incident.

The pensioner said: "I wouldn't normally go that way, but I had been to the town centre to get some fresh kidney beans and Jersey potatoes for my Sunday lunch."

She said she decided to walk to Tesco because she could not buy what she wanted in the town.

A teenager was walking towards her near Glan Ebbw Terrace, and suddenly grabbed hold of her shopping bag.

"I held on to my bag and he pulled it. He twisted me around and I went face down on the floor," she said. Passers-by went to her aid and called an ambulance.

The pensioner said she was angry about the attack, but was overwhelmed by everyone's kindness. She has since rung all the people who helped her, to thank them.

"My nieces and nephews have been terrific. I have good neighbours," she said. "People in Abertillery have restored my faith. I didn't know I was so well known."

The pensioner's shopping bag was recovered but she lost a treasured photograph of her late mother and her purse.

Her house key was recovered, but not before all her locks had been changed.

Detective Inspector Ruth Price said that an anonymous Ebbw Vale man, with no connection to the pensioner, is offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible.

"We are very disappointed that we have had no information about this incident at all," she said.

The attacker is described as between 15 and 18, white, and wearing a grey hooded top and dark trousers.

Anyone with information should contact DI Price on 01495 212021, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.