A farmer is trying to stop shooting groups coming close to his cattle on farmland on the outskirts of Chatteris.

Cambs Times: Shooting on land in Chatteris.Alisa and Ashley Hicks. Picture: Steve Williams.Shooting on land in Chatteris.Alisa and Ashley Hicks. Picture: Steve Williams. (Image: Archant)

Ashley Hicks, who has 30 cows, a bull, four goats and a horse on four acres of land at Campole Drove, says the problem has escalated in recent months and has put out a plea for them to stop.

“We are sometimes down there at 1am in calving season. The last thing we want is people shooting across the land and us getting caught in it.

“Not only that but it scares the cattle. I wouldn’t want to be at the end of a bull that has been riled.

“We know they don’t have permission from one farmer but are not sure on the other neighbouring famland owner.

“Sometimes they are 50 yards away from our animals. It is too much.”

Mr Hicks owns the land on which he farms but there are two other packages of land on either side about a mile down a tiny track off the A142.

Police were called recently to an incident where they said there were lots of shooters who were on the land all day.

“It’s a safety issue and a being considerate issue. There have always been shooters, mainly for rabbits, but in recent times has got much worse,” said Mrs Hicks, whose late husband used to farm the land before being taken over by her son.