A YOUNG mum has been left with a broken eye socket and severe facial injuries after a vicious assault in Penarth.

Alicia Forsey, who has epilepsy, was buying chips with her boyfriend before heading home when she was attacked out of the blue, close to the chip shop on Cornerswell Road.

The incident occurred around 10.30pm on Saturday, with the 21-year-old left in the accident and emergency department until 5am.

Her mother, Leona Tudor-Maisey, said the brutal attack could easily have induced a potentially life-threatening seizure.

The assault occurred when a group of girls started grabbing and pulling Miss Forsey's hair completely unprovoked, before a young boy punched her in the face.

Her mum had been waiting to give her a lift back to Barry, with her partner, following a wedding they had attended.

Ms Tudor-Maisey said: "It happened so fast. I was sat in my car and I saw two girls go into the chip shop.

"The next thing I heard screaming and I saw they had grabbed my daughter by the hair.

"I got out of the car and split them up but then I saw that a boy was hitting my daughter."

Ms Tudor-Maisey said her daughter's partner was also assaulted before the attackers ran off.

Ms Tudor-Maisey added: "It was horrific. My daughter has a two-and-a-half-year-old son who had to see what they did to her face.

"It seemed totally unprovoked. My daughter was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"It could have happened to anyone.

"She has been to the doctor and is tough so she will get through this."

A spokesman for South Wales Police has confirmed they are investigating the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to contact 101 or Crimestoppers quoting reference 298405.