POLICE are investigating after a woman was knocked unconscious while watching The Wurzels in west Dorset.

Officers are appealing for information after an incident at the Tithe Barn at the Symondsbury Estate near Bridport – and believe “a series of assaults” took place.

A woman was taken to hospital with a head injury after the assault, sometime between 9pm and 11pm. The Wurzels and the Skimmity Hitchers were both performing at the venue.

A Bridport police spokesman said: “At least one person received a significant head injury, causing them to lose consciousness. We believe there were a series of assaults that are linked to this.

“They took place in a large crowded event and involved a distinctive looking male with ginger hair. He is someone who we would like to speak to. We appeal for anyone with information that could allow us to identify the perpetrator – or if you were a victim to come forward and give us this information.

“We are convinced that people within the community know who is responsible for this totally unacceptable violence.”

A spokesman for South Western Ambulance Service, said: “We were called to an incident at 10.08pm on Saturday, March 19 at Symondsbury.

“We were called to treat one casualty who had suffered a head injury and was taken to Dorset County Hospital.”

The Symondsbury Estate said it was revising “contingency planning” and is offering those who attended the concert a free ticket to a Skimmity Hitchers gig in November after some people missed the end of the Wurzels concert.

In a statement, the Symondsbury Estate said: “Unfortunately, an incident occurred which resulted in a young woman being accidentally injured. These incidents do sometimes arise as a result of the actions of individuals. The emergency services were called, and they duly took charge of proceedings.

Thankfully, the young woman is we believe making a good recovery.

“We are looking into the overall arrangements on the night and what happened, as well as strengthening our contingency planning in case something like this – or indeed quite different – happens again.

“One of the effects of the incident was that some concertgoers missed out on the end of the concert. To help put that right, we would like to offer everybody who purchased tickets the chance to return to the Tithe Barn on Saturday, November 19 for an evening with the Skimmity Hitchers. Please contact juliab@symondsburyestate.co.uk to provide your proof of purchase to Saturday’s event and to claim your tickets for the concert in November.”

Anyone with information about the incident on Saturday, March 19 should call police on 101, quoting incident 19:384.