AN AVEBURY woman attacked by a man as she walked her dog in the village is hoping Gazette readers can help police trace the attacker who left her lying injured on the ground after he slammed a field gate into her.

The mum, who has asked not to be named and who has lived in Avebury for 14 years, suffered heavy bruising to her face and arms after the man slammed the gate in the Avenue of Stone into her twice when she was waiting to go through while walking with her 25-year-old daughter and two dogs.

“It was a total shock, you don’t expect that to happen," she said. “It was a lot of bruising all over my face and arms, luckily there were no breaks or anything like that. It could’ve been my daughter if we were just standing in different places. I am OK now but I was shaken up at the time, I walk my dog every day and nothing like that has ever happened before.

"It was on the May 31 bank holiday when me and my daughter were walking the dogs through the field. We began walking down the Avenue of Stone and saw that a couple were walking towards it. The couple got there first and the man walked through, after he got through he slammed the gate in my face.

"The gates are spring loaded and quite strong, but he did slam it on me on purpose. It smashed straight into my face, it was with such force that I fell on the floor,” the victim said.

Instead of stopping to see if she was uninjured, the man then slammed the gate into the woman again, causing more bruising to her arms.

“He slammed it again, hitting me, and his wife just walked through and laughed. They were both laughing as they walked off into the field. I could hardly see because my eyes were streaming. We just didn’t know what to do.

"We called my husband who came to get us and drive us to Marlborough police station but there was no one in. After that we went to the walk-in centre in Swindon to get checked up but ended up having to go to Savernake.

The incident is being treated by the police as an assault, and officers are now appealing for witnesses and anyone who may be able to identify the man.

PC James Swayne said: "We would like to speak to the man in the picture in relation to this incident. If you can identify him or can help in anyway with our enquiries, please come forward.

"Avebury is a busy place, especially on a bank holiday, so somebody should have seen something. If you heard or saw anything suspicious please contact me."

If you can help with our enquiries please contact PC James Swayne on 101 or anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.