A 23-year-old woman punched in the face during a violent robbery in the street feared she would be killed.

The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, is struggling to come to terms with the attack, which happened in Douglas Road, Goodmayes.

During her ordeal on January 30, she felt “cold metal” against her body – which she believes may have been a knife.

Police are investigating the attack, which was reported in last week’s Recorder, and the woman wants to ask her assailants why they “had to do that”.

She said: “I am scared to leave the house. I have taken that route to work for three years and have never been approached.

“I thought I would never see my family again.”

The woman was approached from behind by two men at 7.45pm. She said one tapped her, before demanding she hand over her possessions.

She was then struck in the face when she turned round.

“I don’t know what I was thinking,” she said. “I felt my whole face pop and my nose started bleeding.

She added: “They didn’t have to use that much force. I am only 5ft 1 and I would have handed everything over.”

The woman, from Havering, was punched in the ribs before feeling a sharp object. She did not see a knife, but her shirt and coat had rips in them and her side was cut.

The men stole her bag and phone before walking towards a car.

Fearing she would be dragged inside, the woman, who did not require hospital treatment, ran to her work.

She described one attacker as 19-25, with brown eyes. He was wearing a white scarf and dark clothing to cover his face.

The other is 18-25, slim and possibly Asian.

Det Supt Ellie O’Connor said: “That level of violence is worrying and quite unusual, particularly in that neighbourhood.”

Anyone with information should call the police on 101.