A female police officer was kicked in the head and had to be taken to hospital for treatment for an eye injury after she was assaulted, as she tried to break up a fight in Brookend at the weekend.

At about 1.30am on Sunday, February 19th two police officers responded to a call by a member of the public. Sergeant Greg McFarlane told the Ross Gazette the person who called the police was 'terrified' and reported a 'massive' fight in Broad Street and Brookend.

The female officer was punched to the ground and kicked in the head. She required treatment to an eye and for shock. Her male colleague was also assaulted and required hospital treatment.

Sergeant McFarlane said that it took 19 officers, including dog handlers and specialist officers from Hereford, to bring the crowd under control by which time it was about 2.10am. He said the officers were forced to deploy their batons and CS gas was used.

There were six arrests and four people were held in custody for up to 18 hours. Two of the men were in their 20s, one in his late 40s and one in his early 50s. They were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, obstructing the police and assault. They have now been released on bail until early March pending further enquiries.

Members of the Ross group of licencees who have been working with the police to cut down night time disorder, HAND, were celebrating last week at their AGM.

They were congratulated by councillors and the police licensing officer Jim Mooney for the reduction in night time disorder in the town. (See page 2.)

Sergeant McFarlane told the Ross Gazette:?"I hope this is just a blip, the vast majority of people in Ross behave themselves. However this was a serious incident and we are looking for any witnesses who may have seen anything to come forward. We are viewing CCTV of the incident but witness accounts would help."

Contact PC Gareth King at Ross Police on 0300 333 3000 if you have any information about the incident.