of violent attacks over the Christmas weekend.

A Police spokesman described the assault as a "heinous crime'' leaving the woman needing surgery on a broken jaw.

Off-duty Police officers were called in on Christmas Day to start house-to-house inquiries in Between The Walls, off Pitts Bay Road, Pembroke.

The Southampton woman, who the spokesman refused to identify, was visiting a friend's house and was carrying a handbag and a Christmas gift, during the evening of Christmas Day.

She was walking along Between The Walls when she was attacked and beaten about the head with a hard instrument.

Her attacker beat her unconscious and stole her purse, her handbag and the gift she had been carrying.

She was taken to hospital where surgery was performed. Her condition is now said to be "satisfactory''.

Community Relations Officer, Sgt. John Dale said: "Off duty Police officers were called in to form a team under Acting Supt. Victor Richmond. "The team would like to speak to anyone who saw or heard anything. House-to-house inquiries have already been made in the area.

"We are treating this incident very seriously and going all out to find the attacker.'' On Christmas Eve, a 74-year-old Southampton man was attacked and robbed of $375 while walking along Horseshoe Road, in Southampton.

He was assaulted from behind and thrown to the ground by his attacker, who then ran away.

The victim attempted to chase the man but could not keep up. Police are appealing to any witnesses to come forward.

A pair of armed robbers rushed away empty handed after a failed cash snatch outside a store on St. John's Road, Pembroke.

Two employees of the store were leaving the premises, on Christmas Eve, when they were confronted by the would-be thieves.

One was carrying a baseball bat and the other is believed to have been carrying a firearm.

The men were frightened away when one of their intended victims shouted out for help.

Police reported a number of domestic assaults over the Christmas period and various attacks by vandals.

Vandals broke into the Gospel Chapel on Cobbs Hill and caused damage to the vestry but did not steal anything.

Police also discovered more vandalism on Crow Lane, close to Hamilton centre, in Pembroke.

Vandals had uprooted the Crow Lane sign, overturned the bench, breaking it in the process, scattered trash around the area and rolled a boulder into the road.

Police officers cleared up the mess.