A disabled woman has spoken of her terror after she was attacked in a park by a group of youths.

Samantha Rogers, 43, was subjected to a hail of stones and horrid verbal abuse by a children as young as eight when she made her way home in her electric wheelchair through Rectory Road playing field in Sittingbourne.

The mum-of-one, who has had to use a wheelchair since giving birth to her son 15 years ago, had been helping a friend move in to a new home.

On her journey home, she came across the group of about five youths aged from eight to 13 who started shouting abuse at her.

They hurled insults including calling terrified Samantha a “fat slag” and a “beached whale”.

Although frightened, Samantha, of Bluebell Drive, Sittingbourne, said she just wanted to get home, so she carried on going through the park.

The yobs then began throwing big stones at her, three of which hit her head, leaving her with significant swelling and what she describes as a large lump.

Samantha said this was not the first time it had happened to her.

When she got home, her husband Graham reported the attack to police, who are appealing for witnesses.

It happened at around 7pm on Friday, July 29.

Samantha said the scale of the attack did not actually hit her until afterwards.

She added: “I’m shaking and I’m having to force myself to go out.

“I don’t want it happening to other people – imagine if it had been an old dear going through there.

“I want people to be aware that these hate crimes happen in small towns and villages as well as big places like London – it’s very scary.

“It was horrendous and I’m very, very nervous now.

“If I hear anyone behind me I go into a panic.”

• Anyone with information should contact DC Graham Sines on 01795 419339 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, quoting crime reference CY/11947/11.