AN angler out fishing with a friend at night was approached by cyclist dressed in camouflage who then shot him in the rear, police have revealed.

Laurence Cawley

AN angler out fishing with a friend at night was approached by cyclist dressed in camouflage who then shot him in the rear, police have revealed.

Officers were dispatched to the scene in Fornham St Martin, near Bury St Edmunds, as soon as the incident was reported during the early hours of yesterday morning.

The victim was fishing with a friend beside a pond at the golf club in Fornham St Martin at midnight when his colleague got up and walked away to get some refreshments.

While his friend was away, he was approached by a man in his late teens or early 20s who was dressed in camouflaged clothing.

The camouflaged man, who was riding a bicycle, spoke to the victim for a few minutes but when his friend returned with food and drink he shot the angler on the back of his thigh with an air rifle before riding off.

A spokeswoman for the police said although the victim was shaken by the incident, he suffered only a minor injury to the back of his thigh.

It is thought the gunman might have been out at the time of the incident, between midnight and 12.50am, hunting rabbits in the area.

The spokeswoman told how an extensive search of the area was carried out in a bid to catch the gunman but he was not found.

The shooting has stunned Michael Collyer, chairman of Fornham St Martin cum Fornham St Genevieve Parish Council, who said he had not heard about the incident.

Police say the gunman, who is white, was riding a white bike at the time of the incident.

Anybody with information should contact Pc Lisa Yorke at Bury police on 01284 774100 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.