A FARMER was punched in the face after challenging one of the increasing number of motorbike gangs that are invading fields across the district.

Police have launched a campaign to tackle the gangs after Simon Collins, of Kingstons Farm, Matching Green, was assaulted by a young biker when he confronted the yob for driving across his crops.

He said: “I had two people on motorbikes come across our private bridge and go on to our fields. I came up to apprehend them in my 4x4. I jumped out to make a citizen's arrest on one for the crop damage. He made off but he came back to get his bike, and then two car loads of rough youths appeared.

“Three of them jumped over the fence and said they were taking the bike back. At that point one of them came up to me and started swearing and spitting in my face. He took a swing and hit me in the side of my head.

“My staff member in a tractor came up. He got out, and they ran off. The police came down and seized the bike.

“It was not a pleasant experience being hassled by them while a gang stood around. I thought there were just two of them but it turns out there were two car loads of them. I was severely outnumbered.”

“We've had motorbikes and off-road bikes on our land driving over our crops at all times of night and day all around the year. It's a total disregard for the countryside and it's very selfish.”

The problem with off-road bikers has grown to such a level that police in the district have started distributing free boards to farmers warning trespassers they will be prosecuted.

Epping Forest crime reduction officer Tony Ellis said: "Illegal off-road bikers are not only a danger to people legitimately on the land, but they often cause a great deal of damage to crops.”

Farmers Neighbourhood Action Panel chairwoman Rosemary Padfield said: “Most people you point it out to are quite happy to leave, but there's a misconception that people can go anywhere they like as a right to roam which is more for parks and upland.”