A hunt follower is in hospital with a broken jaw today after trouble flared between supporters and saboteurs over the Easter weekend.

VICTIM: Terrierman Dick Tonk

TALLY HO: Hunt master Frank Houghton-Brown leads the Middleton Hunt at Buttercrambe Picture: Nigel Holland

Terrierman Dick Tonks was among several reported injured during the clash near Stamford Bridge.

John Haigh, area spokesman for the Countryside Alliance, said the Middleton Hunt had been answering a request from a local landowner to deal with foxes, which had been killing his lambs.

He alleged that a large gang of masked saboteurs wielding sticks had violently attacked the hunt supporters, leaving Mr Tonks, 41, from the Selby area, with a broken jaw.

Mr Tonks, a father of two young children, is recovering in York District Hospital, where his condition is described as comfortable and stable.

His wife, Angela, said today: "It is just terrible what happened to him but he is a strong character and I know he won't let them get to him. He will be back with the hunt once he's better.

"They were not the normal ones who go to heckle - these people were just thugs."

After the alleged attack, on Saturday afternoon, the saboteurs drove their vehicles across standing crops and threatened the landowner and gamekeeper at the Buttercrambe Estate, Mr Haigh claimed.

He added: "It is appalling that country people going about a legal country pursuit were attacked.

"At a time when support for a hunting ban is falling, clearly these extreme saboteurs are getting desperate and more violent."

Malton Police confirmed that an incident had taken place and said a woman from the Leeds area had been arrested and released on bail while further inquires were made.

Sergeant Andy Stubbings, of Malton Police, who was called out to the incident along with officers from Humberside, said the hunt had reported a disturbance to them at Saturday lunchtime.

He said: "Officers attended the scene and found there were between 15 and 20 hunt saboteurs in the area.

"One of the saboteurs made an allegation about the theft of some keys from one of their vehicles, and there had been a confrontation between the two groups.

"Then a fox went to ground on private land and the hunt went to dig it out.

"About 15 saboteurs trespassed on to the land and the police separated the hunt saboteurs from the hunt supporters.

"We allowed one of the saboteurs to stay so she could observe what was going on, but she later refused to leave and was arrested under the public order act to prevent a breach of the peace.

"We were informed on Sunday morning that a hunt follower had sustained an injury to their jaw before we arrived and we will be interviewing him."

Deborah Woodward, a Ryedale member of the League Against Cruel Sports, said: "We have no idea who did this and utterly condemn what happened. I have never heard of anything like this happening around here before. We always campaign peacefully, but obviously some people have different ideas."

Police asked anyone with information to call them on 01653 692424.

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