A FAMILYof Irish travellers who camped on a field at the edge of Chippenham said they feared for their lives when their van was attacked by an angry farmer in a tractor.

They allege the farmer drove baling spikes on the front of his tractor into the side of the van while 17-year-old mother Pamela Donovan was inside, feeding her seven-week-old baby.

"I was begging him for mercy," said John McDonagh, 18.

The convoy of Irish travellers, with around seven caravans, entered a grass field opposite Wavin in Parsonage Way on Saturday at around 7.30pm. Several of the men fixed up a fence to stop cattle coming into the field when they spotted a tractor coming towards them from another field.

Mr McDonagh claimed the farmer drove around the field chasing the men on foot.

"He drove through the wire and showed no sign of stopping. I knew there was going to be trouble," said Mr McDonagh.

Then the farmer turned his attention to the van, which was parked up near the caravan.

After the incident the farmer and the travellers called the police and an ambulance.

Miss Donovan was taken to Bath's Royal United Hospital and released at 3am, suffering back and neck injuries, including whiplash.

Three days after the incident, she said she could not walk.

The travellers said they came from southern Ireland and wanted to spend the summer in Britain for a holiday.

They travelled from Swindon to Chippenham, and Mr McDonagh said they had never visited the area before.

He added they had never received this kind of treatment in the past.

"He never even asked us to leave," said Mr McDonagh.

"He just took the law into his own hands."

The travellers are still on the site and Mr McDonagh said they might have to remain a couple of weeks for repairs to the van and caravan.

A Langley Burrell man was arrested and has been charged with causing criminal damage. The man, aged 38, will appear before Chippenham magistrates on Monday.