Woman cautioned for assault after tussle with badger cull protester

A woman in her 60s has been given a police caution for assault after tussling with a protester campaigning against the badger cull in Somerset.

The victim, Sharon Doyle, said she and a friend were checking a map at the side of a road on a Saturday night after hearing reports that shooters and police had been spotted in the area.

She said: "We had been asked to visit the footpaths in that area as there had been reports of shooters and police and whilst checking our map at the side of the road we were subjected to verbal and physical abuse from the locals. My car keys were wrestled from me resulting in bruising. It is totally outrageous."

Avon and Somerset police confirmed that it received an allegation of common assault on 14 September. A spokeswoman said a woman in her 60s had been issued with a caution.

Only three arrests have been made in the Somerset zone and two other cautions have been issued. A man in his 50s is on bail having been arrested on suspicion of a public order offence.

Another protester has asked police to investigate after her dog, Ziggy, suffered an alleged knife wound as anti-cull campaigners patrolled in Somerset. Hundreds of pounds has been donated to pay for Ziggy's vet bills.

There have been a string of arrests in Gloucestershire, where the second zone is situated, since the start of the cull. The latest took place shortly after midnight on Wednesday. A 34-year-old woman was arrested to prevent harassment after a report that a car was being followed. A 38-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault at the end of last month and remains on bail.

Seven people, including one from Pittsburg in the US, have been arrested but no further action is to be taken with regard to them.