A hunt saboteur has been attacked by a "masked-up mercenary" group who also smashed up his van.

The South Coast Hunt Saboteurs were at the Southdown and Eridge Hunt in Church Farm near Herstmonceux when the group was attacked by a group of four unidentified people.

Police were called to the scene shortly after 1.30pm on Monday, January 1.

The Argus: A smashed window and tyre left at the sceneA smashed window and tyre left at the scene (Image: Facebook / South Coast Hunt Sabs)

A spokesman for the saboteurs wrote: "They used whatever instruments they had in possession, including a traffic cone and a spare tyre, to shatter the windows and gain access to the vehicle.

"They first targeted one of the sabs, an RAF veteran in his 60s, punching him repeatedly in the head, face and ribs, trying desperately to drag him from the vehicle to inflict more excessive bodily harm."

Pictures show a cut on the man's right eyebrow, ear, and temple.

Dog walkers and security guards at the castle stepped in to stop the fracas and called emergency services - including an ambulance which took one saboteur to hospital.

Read more: Hunt sabs run wheelbarrow race to force hunt out of town

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: "A parked car was reportedly damaged by four suspects and one of the occupants assaulted. He was taken to hospital as a precaution.

"Another occupant of the vehicle reported having a camera stolen.

"The incident is under investigation and the vehicle has been seized for forensics examination.

"Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to report it online or call 101, quoting serial 829 of 01/01."