A SILVER sword was stolen from a medieval expert after he was attacked by a group of thugs.

James Dunne was knocked to the ground by a man after a medieval re-enactment day in the grounds of Caldicot Castle.

When Mr Dunne, from Christchurch, Dorset, was on the floor his Celtic Leaf Blade Sword, worth £125, was stolen.

PC Mark Bowen, of Caldicot police, said: "It was about midnight on September 7 and Mr Dunne was talking to friends near the main entrance to the castle.

"He was approached by a group of eight young males who came from a small red car. One of the men butted and punched him to the floor and stole the sword from him."

The white male attacker is described as 5ft 7in tall and of stocky build. He's in his early twenties, clean shaven, shaven head and was wearing a white T-shirt and jeans. The stolen silver sword has a riveted horseshoe pattern below the handle and is made by Lancaster Amouries.