A HUNT supporter suffered a broken foot after an accident on the coast road.

The Cattistock Hunt were out between Swyre and Abbotsbury on Saturday afternoon when the incident unfolded.

It is thought hunt follower Desmond Martin had parked up on the side of the road to help catch stray hounds when he was involved in a collision with a passing car.

Huntmaster William Bryer said: “He has broken bones in his foot. I think apart from that he is okay. I spoke to him on Sunday, hopefully he is making a recovery.”

Mr Bryer, who did not see the incident, added: “All I know is when I arrived to collect the stray hounds Des was on the road.

“I think he fainted.

“It looked very dramatic but thankfully he is okay.”

He paid tribute to the police and ambulance service.

Mr Bryer said: “They were on the scene very quickly and handled it very professionally.”

Hunt protester and monitor Graham Forsyth was following the hunt when they saw Mr Martin in the road.

He said: “We saw a hunt supporters group and then realized there was someone in front of the car.

“I’ve been monitoring for six or seven years and we know Desmond.”

He expressed concern over hounds and riders crossing small country roads and feared more accidents would happen.

Mr Forsyth said: “It’s going to cause an accident, it’s not safe for the public.”

A spokesman for Dorset Police said that the man had suffered ‘significant’ leg injuries.

He said: “We received a call from the ambulance service at 1.30pm on Saturday, March 3 reporting two-vehicle collision on the B3157 between Abbots-bury and Swyre.

“They reported an elderly man was struck by a vehicle.”

The vehicles involved were a Bronze Honda CRV and a black Nissan Nevara. The road was closed just before 2pm while emergency services worked.

The police spokesman added: “The man suffered significant leg injuries and was taken to Dorset County Hospital. He sustained broken bones in his foot.”

The police are appealing for witnesses and anyone with information to call them on 101.