UUP MLA for south Belfast, Michael McGimpsey has described a hammer assault on a woman at the weekend as a "Wild West" style attack.

Mr McGimpsey was responding to an incident in which a 53-year-old care assistant was hit on the head with a hammer as two youths tried to steal her husband's car at a shop on Finaghy Road North on the outskirts of south Belfast.

During the attack a teenager opened the passenger door of the vehicle in which the woman sitting. Though she managed to close and lock the door, one of the youths smashed the window with a hammer.

The woman was then hit with the hammer, punched and dragged by her hair from the vehicle before being thrown to the ground.

The woman suffered substantial bruising to her head, body and legs as well as shock.

The youths were seen driving off in the direction on Andersonstown.

Commenting on the incident, Mr McGimpsey said: "We cannot hope to live in a civilised society until people who conduct themselves in this appalling manner are rigorously dealt with by the law.

“It is a mercy that the victim was not more seriously injured although the trauma of such an horrific crime will not be easy to forget."

The vehicle was later recovered on Sunday in the Dunmurry area.

Police have appealed for any witnesses to come forward.

(MB)