ALTON police are appealing for witnesses after a 38-year-old man was hit over the head by two masked men at a fox hunt in Holybourne on Saturday.
The hunt started at Aylesfield near Alton, with around a dozen protesters in attendance.
Inspector Steve Sargent, who was supervising the protest with a team of officers, said: ÒFor the most part, the protesters were well behaved and stayed within the law. But at about 3 pm two men and a woman crossed several fields and approached a foot follower of the hunt.
ÒThe two men were, by then, wearing balaclavas and one hit the follower on the head with a fallen tree branch. The man believes he was then kicked in the head while on the ground.
ÒThe injured man suffered cuts to the side of the head and and later went to hospital where he received 12 stitches.
ÒThis was a vicious and unprovoked attack and incidents of this sort must do a lot of damage to the publicÕs view of hunt protesters.
ÒWe know that most anti-hunt people deplore violence and I am appealing to those people to let us know, in confidence, if they have any information which will help us to trace the offenders and put a stop to these attacks which harm their cause so much.Ó
Simon Harrap, the Hampshire Hunt master on the day in question, said: ÒI am extremely annoyed and upset for the person who was hurt. He is a regular foot follower and it is unfortunate that he was caught up in this nasty incident.
ÒHe was hurt quite badly and needed 12 stitches, but he is at home now and is quite all right. It is a shame that this incident happened at the end of an otherwise wonderful day.Ó
Anyone wishing to help can ring Alton police on 0845 045 45 45 or call the anonymous Crimestoppers number on 0800 555111.