A police officer was kicked and beaten as she tried to arrest another woman in Shoreham.

Today Acting Sergeant Dawn Butler was recovering from bruising and whiplash injuries to her neck.

She was repeatedly punched in the face after she and two male colleagues intervened in a couple's St Valentine's night row.

The lovers' tiff began as an argument in a pub in the Buckingham Road area of Shoreham.

Police were called after the couple continued their row as they walked to nearby Shoreham station.

Sgt Butler's colleagues went to deal with the man on the north platform while she spoke to the woman on the opposite platform.

Sgt Butler 5ft, tried to calm down the woman who, at 5ft 8in and wearing heavy boots, towered over her.

She was allegedly pushed during the struggle which followed and clumps of hair were pulled from the 25-year-old officer's head.

As the struggle continued, Sgt Butler lost her balance and fell to the ground, twisting her right knee.

As she lay dazed on the platform, she was allegedly repeatedly kicked in the face.

Aware that her colleagues were dealing with the woman's partner, Sgt Butler tried to use her police radio to call for help.

It was snatched from her hand and smashed on the ground.

Sgt Butler said: "As we struggled I was trying to hold on to her but she kept pulling my hair out and trying to get away.

"When I fell to the floor she began kicking and punching me in the head."

The woman continued to struggle violently with other officers who arrived and they had to restrain her using a Viper device which prevents suspects from lashing out.

Sgt Butler, married and with Sussex Police for five years, was taken to Worthing Hospital.

She was allowed home in the early hours of Saturday and has been on duty since.

A woman and a man were arrested in connection with the incident and have been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Shoreham police have appealed for witnesses to the incident just before midnight on Friday.