COURAGEOUS Shelley Jones from Chippenham spoke of her horror after fighting off an attacker on her way home from work last Thursday evening.

The gutsy 20 year old was grabbed from behind by a man as she walked home from her job in Sainsbury's at 10pm.

She said: "I was terrified, absolutely petrified, and all I could think to do was to get away and fight to get free.

"The man grabbed me round the waist and put a hand over my mouth and I just elbowed him as hard as I could."

The incident took place in the recreational park by Goodwood Way. She said: "I have been playing in that park since I was seven years old and I feel safe there.

"I would never have expected anything like that to happen to me to me and I have made that walk many times throughout my life."

Miss Jones said she had gone to the cash point just before making her journey home but was unsure as to whether the man had seen her withdraw money and had been after her wallet.

She said: "I didn't want to wait to find out and my immediate reaction was to just elbow him and get away.

"I'm only five feet tall but I put up a fight."

She added: "As I ran off I managed to look behind me so as I could get a good look at him and a description for the police.

"I think if I had been walking home and hour or so later then I would have rung my mum for a lift, but I felt safe that night."

Miss Jones who lives with her mother and her two brothers in the Queens Crescent area of Chippenham said her family have been very supportive.

The attacker is described as being 5'5'' to 5'10'' tall and of average build.

He was wearing a black or dark grey long sleeved fleece top and a light coloured hooded top underneath.

He was wearing dark blue jeans and light coloured trainers and smelt of cigarettes.