AN urgent appeal for witnesses to come forward has been made following a mob attack on two police officers which saw them kicked and punched to the head while kneeling on the ground.

The woman officer was kicked in the face while putting her unconscious colleague in the recovery position.

The violence erupted in Chippenham Fields, Monmouth, at around 9.50pm on Friday September 16, where a large group of between 50 and 70 had gathered.

Ian Chaffey, one of the two special constables involved, told the Review: "I'd started a routine patrol and came across a couple of underage lads with tobacco. I was dealing with that when I became aware of two men squaring up to each other. I got between the two of them, one calmed down the other didn't. He squared up me and I had to use my PAVA cannister to spray him in the face.

"Unfortunately it didn't have much effect the first time round so I had to spray him a second time. This quickly disorientated him for a minute or so. I drew my baton when he made an attempt to get away, then he tried to punch me. I hit him twice on the right thigh, he turned and ran a short distance before turning around to attack me. At that point I hit him a third time and he went to the ground.

"I went to the ground to see if he was all right and give him first aid when somebody kicked me. I was kicked in the face and was knocked unconscious. I think I was out for about eight minutes."

Karen Rogers, the second special constable and on only her fourth time out said: "I came round the corner and saw a large group of young people. They were still kicking Ian even though he was unconscious.

"I got to my knees to put Ian in the recovery position and that's when they started kicking me. I wasn't knocked unconscious but stayed down trying to protect Ian's head.

"I tried to press my emergency button on my radio, but somebody grabbed it off me. I managed to get hold of Ian's radio, pressed for emergency and officers arrived pretty quickly."

Ian suffered severe swelling and bruising to his eye, loose teeth, swelling to his cheek bone and a damaged shoulder. Karen suffered facial bruising and has nerve damage to her front teeth.

Superintendent Mark Sutton of Gwent Police said: "What we have here is two officers who were seriously assaulted out of the blue while trying to protect the public and do their duty.

"It is virtually unknown for us to have something like this take place in a place like Monmouth.

"I am appealing for these people to come forward. We've had some response, but not as much as good as I hoped. I expected a lot more people to come forward because they know who they are.

"We're also looking at CCTV footage and would ask anyone from the building close to Chippenham Fields who might have CCTV to get in touch with us."

The number to call is 0800 111555 or Superintendent Sutton on 07811 349347.