A DISABLED man said he feared for his life after being kicked by a group of men as he lay on the ground outside a Newport pub.

Anthony Osmond, who has a false leg fitted above the knee, was waiting for a taxi outside the Merry Miller pub in Apollo Way, Bettws, when he was knocked to the ground and attacked.

Mr Osmond, from Clyde Street, Risca, suffered a broken nose, two black eyes, and bruising and cuts to his head and body during the incident at around 11.15pm on Sunday.

His shocked fiance, Stacey Demarco, aged 27, witnessed the brutal assault that left 47-year-old Mr Osmond unconscious for a short time.

Mr Osmond, who has three grown-up children, said: "It felt like I was being kicked to death on the floor, boots were flying all over the place.

"There were about six of them kicking me.

"I have no idea at all why they did this."

He said he noticed a family having an argument outside the pub, when one of them turned and butted him on the nose.

Doctors will reset the nose once the swelling has gone down.

Mr Osmond was having a drink in the pub with his fiance and some friends before the attack.

He said the false leg he had fitted in 1981 after a motorbike accident was knocked off but not damaged during the assault.

His injuries were treated at the Royal Gwent Hospital, in Newport.

Miss Demarco, a home care worker, said: "We don't know who it was but they were just bullies out to hit someone.

"It's absolutely disgusting they could do this. There was a big pile of people on top of him and I could see his metal leg had come loose.

"No-one came to help or owned up to it when the police arrived after about ten minutes."

Sergeant Bernie Dawson, from Bettws police, said: "There was an incident reported to us at 11.28pm about a man being assaulted."

He said police were appealing for witnesses, who should contact PC 1330 Andy Perks on 01633 838111.