Masked saboteurs unleash violent attack on anglers

A gang of masked hunt saboteurs wielding baseball bats smashed up rods, damaged cars and started fights in an unprovoked attack on a group of anglers.

The anti-bloodsports campaigners are believed to have targeted the fly-fishermen after failing to find many grouse-shooting parties to disrupt in the North West of England.

The gang emerged from woodland near Bank House Fly Fishery at Caton, near Lancaster. About 30 men carrying baseball bats and blocks of wood descended on the lake shouting “Sabs” before smashing the anglers’ rods, damaging nearby cars and starting fights. Two fishermen were assaulted and a woman was punched in the face.

Lucy Belson, 36, a nurse, who was fishing at the time, said that the gang had threatened to push her in the water unless she fled. She said: “I was enjoying a peaceful day’s fishing when this gang suddenly arrived. They began throwing stones and one of them said: ‘Its the easy way or the hard way. You have been sabbed.’

A police spokesman said: “This is a disturbing new trend, attacking people as they fish. Obviously we are looking at the criminal damage element. Fly rods can cost up to £4,000.”