Teenager Kelly Price was set upon by a gang of youths after suffering an epileptic-type fit in Chippenham town centre during a busy lunch hour.

Miss Price, 18, fell to the ground during the fit, brought on by a mystery illness, and woke to find a group of five boys shouting abuse at her and kicking her in the face.

She has been so scarred by her ordeal that she cannot face leaving her house for long periods of time.

Kelly, of Charles Street, Corsham, has also needed to visit her doctor on a daily basis since the attack on August 10.

Doctors have been baffled by her seizures, which started only a few months ago, but believe they are linked to a serious car crash when she was 13.

She said: "I can't believe a person could treat someone who is ill like this - it was like they were kicking a football.

"I had just finished my lunch on a bench in Borough Parade when I collapsed onto the floor.

"When I came to, there were five boys crowding round me shouting and swearing.

"Then one of them kicked me in the face pushing me back onto the floor - he then kicked the back of my head as I tried to get up again.

"This was in the middle of a busy shopping street at lunchtime and no-one stopped to help me - they all just looked the other way.

"I scrambled to my feet and ran back to work. Colleagues called the police and my mum. I was in such a state and just didn't know what had happened."

Since the attack Ms Price has also had a brain scan at Bristol's Frenchay Hospital to try and determine the cause of the fits.

Ms Price's mum, Cherie, said: "My daughter has suffered enough with the seizures, but to be attacked like this is horrific.

"I beg anyone who saw these thugs to contact the police immediately - they need to be punished for what they have done."

Ms Price, who works at the Abbey building society on the High Street, has described the boy who kicked her in the head as late teens, with light hair wearing a blue tracksuit.

Any witnesses should call Chippenham Police on 0845 408 7000 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.