British fishermen claim they have been attacked by the French in a dispute is over the right to trawl for scallops off the French coast.

Andy Scott, managing director of Scott Trawlers of Dumfries, described how French vessels "surrounded" and attacked one of his boats.

"They were hurling bricks and rocks and anything they could find at the vessel," he explained.

"They were helpless… they were really powerless," he told Today presenter Justin Webb, referring to the men trapped on the boat.

Having made a request to the Royal Navy for protection, Mr Scott explained that "it would be comforting to know that we had some help nearby if things escalated again".

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