A MUM has told how she was attacked and robbed for just £5 in a city street by three teenagers while holding her little children.

Sarah Phillips was set upon in a car park as she made her way home with her two-year-old son and four-month-old daughter to pick up an electricity card.

While the terrified 24-year-old held on to baby Chelsea's pram with one hand and toddler Ryan by the other the thugs took turns to punch her in the face.

Her purse containing the £5 she was going to spend on electricity was snatched from the pram.

The robbers even tried to grab a gold chain from her neck during the attack at the back of Ladbrokes in Shirley, Southampton.

Sarah, of nearby Shirley Towers, said: "I didn't even see them before they started laying into me. They were punching me in the face.

"I tried to fight back but I had one hand on the pram and one hand on Ryan. He was just standing there crying. I was more frightened for my kids than myself.

"The worst thing is they did all this for just £5. I can't believe they would attack a woman with two children."

Detectives want to speak to anyone who may have seen the youths running off after the attack, which happened around 6.45pm.

The three robbers were white, aged about 16, and about 5ft 2in tall.

One wore a black bomber-style padded jacket and had wavy blond hair in a "curtain" style, while another wore a red or burgundy top.

Call Shirley CID on 01703 335444 or the Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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