A CALDICOT woman has hit out after a CCTV tape of an attack on her husband was lost - leading to a court case against two people accused of the assault being dismissed.

Mel Samuel, 36, and husband Simon, 27, of Elm Road, were attacked as they left a club last year.

The incident was caught on CCTV but, by the time the case reached the court last month, the crucial taped evidence had been mislaid. Mr and Mrs Samuel were confronted as they left Caldicot Labour Club in August.

Mrs Samuel said: "The next thing I knew they knocked Simon to the floor and were kicking him in the head and face. I thought they were going to kill him.

"I tried to get them off Simon, but I was knocked unconscious to the ground."

The incident was picked up by CCTV operators, who alerted Gwent police. Two men were later charged with causing actual bodily harm.

When the case came to court in January, Mr and Mrs Samuels were told by the Crown Prosecution Service that the tape had been lost and the case dismissed because of lack of evidence.

"It's a disgrace that something so vital to a court case could be lost," said Mrs Samuel.

Caldicot town councillor James Harris said: "I have made my views about the situation with CCTV in Caldicot known in the past.

"They say there is nothing wrong, but this clearly shows it is not effective. "We are paying for something that is not working. Criminals know it is not working."

A spokeswoman for Gwent police said: "We are unable to comment at the moment because we are attempting to get more information about this particular case."