THE widow of murdered Southampton dad Eddie Maddick has been robbed of her Christmas savings and gifts - just yards from her home.

Caroline Maddick, who works as a special needs assistant at a Southampton school, had saved long and hard to buy presents for her two children and other family members.

After splashing out on jewellery and other items in town, the 44-year-old caught the bus home to Millbrook.

But just as she turned into Bampton Close, two teenagers hit her over the head and pushed her to the ground.

As she lay there, one of the robbers held her arm back and grabbed her black rucksack before both ran off.

Caroline, whose husband was battered to death on a Millbrook footpath in July 2001, managed to struggle to her nearby home and rang the police.

The mother-of-two suffered bruising in the terrifying attack and was forced to take last week off work after suffering persistent headaches.

Today Caroline said: "I had taken my glasses off and put them in my pocket because it was starting to rain when I got off the bus.

"I had only got four or five steps into the Close when these two youngsters struck me. It all happened very quickly.

"I feel like I have been hit by a truck and have been having terrible headaches, but you have to put everything into context. Nothing could be worse than what has already happened to Eddie."

Caroline said the attack would not hamper her battle to get justice for 45-year-old Eddie, who was disabled through a rare form of epilepsy.

More than a year after he was brutally killed on a rare night out in Shirley, no-one is behind bars for his murder.

Friends and family of the former builder have set up an appeal to raise at least £10,000 to fund legal action which could finally nail his killer.

Today a family friend appealed for whoever mugged Caroline to do the decent thing and return her black leather-look rucksack, long black purse embossed with the gold initials CMM, and various Christmas gifts.

Mary Brannigan said: "If the callous youngsters had a heart, they would make amends by returning the gifts bought with love to a family that are missing an important person in their lives."

Police said one robber was white, 5ft 10in, slim, aged 18 to 22, wearing dark trousers and a beige or grey hooded top, while the second was white, 5ft 7in to 5ft 9in, in his late teens and wore dark clothing.

Det Sgt Phil Bateman, leading the inquiry, said: "This was a very nasty incident which left the victim extremely shocked, and we want to find those responsible as soon as possible."

Information to the Southampton crime team on 0845 045 4545, or the anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.