TWO women sat helplessly as baseball bat wielding thugs smashed up their car during a motiveless daylight attack near Newport yesterday.

Police say four men in a black Audi pulled up alongside the woman and her friend who were parked in a car in Church Lane, Marshfield. The men got out and began smashing up the car at about 3pm before one climbed on the bonnet.

In a desperate attempt to escape, the women drove off and the man on the bonnet was sent sprawling.

Inspector Simon Foster, of Gwent Police, said: "We received several calls regarding a vehicle in the Marshfield area.

"We were then told that men attacked the car with baseball bats. The woman driver was parked up when a black Audi with four men in it drove up.

"When she drove away to escape the man was thrown off the bonnet. We think the incident was unprovoked and the women are quite shaken up." Police are linking the Marshfield inci-dent with one ten minutes earlier at St Mellons Business Park near Cardiff where two men were seen breaking into a car.

After being approached by witnesses, the men escaped in a Citroen Saxo. One witness was run down after he stepped in front of their car in a bid to stop them.

Newport city councillor Bill Pursey, who represents the Marshfield ward, said he was shocked to hear about the incident.

"Marshfield is usually a sleepy place and Church Lane is usually particularly quiet.

"It can't have been very nice for the woman in the car." Police are appealing for witnesses. Anyone with information is asked to phone Gwent Police on 01633 858111 or Crimestoppers 0800 555111.

Four men have been arrested in connection with the incident and are being questioned at a Cardiff police station.