Hunt opponents’ cars rammed by masked men driving off-road vehicle in violent clash

Hunt saboteurs were repeatedly rammed by an off-road vehicle that aggressively hit their cars as they headed to a hunt.

Dash-cam footage shows the 4x4 – containing several masked men – emerging from a side road and slamming at speed into the side of the sabs’ parked car.

The attackers then quickly reverse before ramming into the front corner of a second car, parked behind the first and also carrying anti-hunt activists.

The saboteurs said their car was written off and one person suffered minor injuries.

They were planning to disrupt the Grove and Rufford Hunt, meeting at Newark, Nottinghamshire, when the clash happened.

The activists, from Manchester, Sheffield, Liverpool and West Yorkshire, said they were first stalked by the dark blue Land Cruiser.

Their video shows the driver sticking up a middle finger at the saboteurs as they drive off.

Other clips show a 4x4 driving aggressively towards the saboteurs, apparently trying to intimidate them.

The Sheffield group wrote on Facebook: “This was all premeditated as the Land Cruiser had no front number plate, and a rear number plate that was intentionally smeared with something to make it unreadable.

“Later in the day, our smallest female sab was assaulted by another hunt yes man and a woman with a dog who stole kit off her.”

Alec Holland, 32, a volunteer with North West Hunt Saboteurs, who was in one of the vehicles, said: “Sabs are used to some degree of violence but I never expected them to use their car as a battering ram like that.

“I’ve been assaulted on several occasions but this was by far the most extreme incident I’ve been involved in.”

Mr Holland said police handed out dispersal orders to the saboteurs and “lectured” them on how they look to the public.

Hunt opponents have appealed for help in identifying the driver, sharing still images of him on social media.

Police said they were investigating a report of driving offences and criminal damage.

The Independent has asked the Grove and Rufford Hunt to comment, but a spokeswoman told the BBC it “fiercely condemns any form of violence and the type of behaviour shown by these individuals who are not representatives of the hunt”.

She added: “The hunt acts lawfully within the confines of the Hunting Act 2004 and takes every measure to ensure good relationships with members of the public.”

A group called This is Hunting UK denied the attackers were hunt supporters.

“We have contacted both the Manchester and Nottingham Saboteurs and informed them of this important information.

“We categorically denounce the use of violence and intimidation on either side of this debate and have publicly condemned this behaviour,” it said.