Thugs cut and kicked a young woman, despite her pleas that she was expecting a baby, it was revealed yesterday.

The 20-year-old secretary, who is two months' pregnant, was attacked and robbed by two men, one of them armed with a knife, as she left work at Newcastle General Hospital, at about 6pm on Tuesday.

She was walking the 200 yards from the x-ray department to a bus stop, when the men grabbed her and forced her to the ground.

One used the knife to cut through her clothes, then made surface cuts to her chest. The pair then kicked her as she lay on the floor, despite her cries that she was expecting a baby.

They wrenched her wedding and engagement rings off with so much force that they broke one of her fingers. The pair made off on foot along the West Road.

Following the attack, hospital bosses have promised to step up security. Extra measures include increased evening cover from police and security staff, and the offer of an escort across the hospital grounds and personal alarms.

Staff are being urged to walk in pairs or groups.

Meanwhile, detectives have spoken to witnesses and are studying security TV footage.

The knifeman was described as white, aged between 15 and 20, with small, piggy-like eyes. He was wearing a dark, padded, waist-length jacket, a dark baseball cap with a bright motif, and a scarf around his face. His accomplice, also white, was wearing dark clothing, including a baseball cap.

Their haul included a gold ring inset with diamonds and amethyst and a gold wedding band inscribed "I love you".

They also took the woman's black handbag, which had embroidered flowers, and a mobile phone bearing a Winnie the Pooh sticker.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Newcastle West CID on 0191-214 6555.