ONE of England's top fly fishermen has condemned a gang of baseball bat-wielding animal rights activists who attacked a group of anglers at Caton.
Anglers were enjoying a day's fishing at the Bank House Fly Fishery recently when 35 masked saboteurs went on the rampage.
Arriving in three vans the activists attacked the anglers, smashing rods, damaging cars and ripping up signs.
Ben Dobson, a p
artner in the fishery, said he believed that those involved were "more people haters than animal lovers. I personally believe that these guys were not serious animal rights activists," he said.
"They're like football hooligans – in it for the adrenalin rush of putting their balaclavas on and smashing things up."
It is believed that the saboteurs attacked out of frustration.
"It appears that they'd been up to the Abbeystead estate to try and disrupt the grouse shooting," Mr Dobson, who has represented England in the sport of fly fishing, added.
"But it had been cancelled so they descended on us instead."
Chief Inspector Julian Platt, from Lancaster Police Station, said they were doing "everything possible" to identify and prosecute those involved in the incident.
"We are aware that known activists across the country have moved their focus from foxhunting to fishing and shooting events," he said.
"As a consequence we would seek the support of groups involved in these activities to contact their local neighbourhood policing teams."
Anyone with any information should contact police on 63333.
