Police have issued an appeal for witnesses after hunting opponents claimed one of their supporters was injured in an attack by hunt followers in the South Hams.

The anti-hunt group Hunt Saboteurs Association claims that last Saturday a hunt saboteur was injured when he was punched to the ground and ridden down by members of the Dart Vale and South Pool Harriers.

A spokesman claimed: “Sabot­eurs had been following the hunt when a small group of three were lured into a premeditated attack.

“The injured sab was punched to the ground before being ridden over by one of the hunt horses.”

South Devon Animal Rights said the hunt met at South Pool. A mounted field of around 25 riders, two boxed-up quads with terriermen and a few support vehicles went through woodland and valley areas around West Prawle, Chivel­stone and the Gullet Plantation.

On Sunday, the group claimed the protester, Sid Leigh from Bodmin, Cornwall, was “knocked unconscious during the attack, lost response at the local hospital [South Hams Hospital, Kingsbridge] and was losing blood, so was rushed by ambulance to Derriford Hospital. He also sustained a hoof print to his head.

“He is now out of hospital and recovering. He received a badly broken nose and severe bruising to his face, head and body.”

The organisation said police were investigating the alleged attack after being called by other members of the animal rights group.

Lee Moon, a spokesman for the Hunt Saboteurs Association, claimed: “This was clearly a premeditated attack by a hunt that have been put under increasing pressure by South Devon Animal Rights. Unable to kill with impunity they are taking out their frustrations on those that stop them. We hope that Devon and Cornwall Police carry out a thorough investigation but given their usual pro-hunt bias we won’t hold our breath.”

A spokesman for the hunt admitted “an incident of some sort did occur” on Saturday afternoon, after many of the field and followers had gone home, and there were few witnessess to what had happened.

He explained that throughout the day of trail hunting, the field were being followed by “masked people” who the hunt was unable to identify. He claimed a trespassing incident had occurred during the day, when a saboteur went onto land that was not open to the public.

The spokesman said police were called out at the time because the saboteurs had claimed members of the hunt were shooting at them.

In fact, he said, this turned out to be pigeon shooters nearby and the police helicopter was not needed.

He also claimed the saboteurs had been trying to call the hounds onto the road and into the estuary.

But, he said, he had no futher details about the alleged incident in which a man was hurt.

The spokesman added that the hunt had been out on Tuesday, as usual. A police car did attend that meeting to ensure that no trespassing took place.

He added that the harriers would like to “continue trail hunting as they have done for the last 12 years”.

Huntsman Emyln Jones, who was out on Saturday, confirmed the harriers were trail hunting – not fox hunting – and acted within the law. He said: “I was not there [when the alleged incident happened] and didn’t see anything.”

The Countryside Alliance said in a statement issued on behalf of the hunt: “The Dart Vale and South Pool Harriers do not condone any form of violence even when faced with extreme provocation, personal harassment and other offences.”

A police spokesman said: “We are investigating an allegation of an assault following an incident that took place near a farm in South Pool, Kingsbridge, at around 3.40pm on Saturday, January 13. A man in his 40s sustained facial injuries and was taken to Derriford Hospital.

“We would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident. If you were there, or have yet to have spoken to police and have information that can aid with our investigation, please contact [email protected] quoting crime reference CR/003949/18.”