POLICE arrested three men following an alleged fight between a group who were thought to have been metal detecting near a rural Suffolk tourist attraction.

Emergency services were called to Baylham House Rare Breeds Farm, near Needham Market, at about 3.15am on Saturday morning after a man suffered head injuries.

It is believed that a number of men had been scouring the Roman site surrounding the farm looking for unearthed treasure and had been involved in a confrontation.

The 38-year-old man, from the Grays area of Essex, was believed to have been struck with a “metal pole” and was taken to West Suffolk Hospital for treatment.

Police said they arrested three men on suspicion of assault causing grevious bodily harm – the 38-year-old man, a 41-year-old man from Grays and a 43-year-old man of no fixed abode.

The 41-year-old man was bailed to return to Ipswich Police Station on April 1 while the other two will face no further action.

Police and the ambulance service were called after farm owner Richard Storer’s daughter Katrina was confronted by an injured man as she went to check on the farm’s lambing sheep at about 3am.

“It was a very scary experience for her,” said Mr Storer.

“As the man came into the light Katrina could see that his face was covered in blood and also that he was using his mobile phone to call an ambulance. He didn’t know where he was and had followed the light to find help.”

Mr Storer said Katrina alerted her brother Neil, who was sleeping in the farmhouse, and they helped the man arrange for an ambulance to come out. The police were also called.

Mr Storer said that three hours before the incident he had told two metal detectorists to leave the field.

“It has been happening a lot lately and is particularly bad this year. The field was ploughed and sowed a fortnight ago and then these chaps arrive.”

Mr Storer said the farm was open as normal this week.