A PENSIONER is recovering after being mugged in Newcastle on Thursday night.

The 78-year-old woman was walking along Spencer Street between 7.30 and 8pm when she was approached from behind, pushed to the ground and had her bag stolen.

She suffered bruises to the face and was taken to hospital before being released.

Her attacker ran off with her bag, which contained personal items. The only description she could give was that the robber was a young man wearing fawn coloured trousers.

Meanwhile, police in Gates-head are investigating three separate assaults which happened during the early hours of yesterday.

The attacks took place between 1.53am and 2.52am near the Tuxedo Princess car park and outside Baha Beach Club, both on Gateshead's Quayside.

Although all three were separate, they all involved up to 30 people in assaults. Three men are currently detained at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Police have arrested three people in connection with all three incidents.

They are currently helping with inquiries.

Anyone with any information about any of the incidents is asked to call police on 0191 4547555.