A disabled woman was "slapped over the head" by a group of teenagers as she collected money for a terminal illness charity in Kingston town centre.

The woman from Tolworth, who wishes to remain anonymous, said she was attacked by three teenage girls as she collected money from passers by for Marie Curie.

She said she had been near Marks & Spencer in Clarence Street on Saturday, March 11, when she was attacked at about 4pm.

She said: "All of a sudden someone hit me on the head with their right hand and nicked my hat. A family came over to help me and they asked me to sit down and asked me how I felt.

"I'm disabled, I have a stick. If they get away with this they can do it again. I don't know what to do but I thought people should be warned."

The woman, who has been volunteering for Marie Curie for several years, is about 5ft 2ins high and has osteoarthritis in both knees and requires a walking stick to prevent her falling over.

She said: "They were big, heavy girls. I looked and saw them running away, I heard them shouting.

"Up until now the bump on my head was so loud it kept ringing in my head."

"I'm sure someone saw something. I don't know what reason they would have to do this to me. I don't know what they're capable of.

"If they can do it in public with hundreds of people there's no saying what they could do. It will restrict me from going anywhere. It's quite worrying."

A Kingston Police spokesman confirmed they were called at about 4pm on Saturday and found a lady "in distress" who had been injured by "a young girl".

He added that although CCTV images were not able to show the attack, anyone with information should call officers on 101 quoting crime reference number 0402451/17.