A leading British horsewoman has described the terrifying moment when her horsebox was attacked by a gang of armed migrants in Calais.

Lucy Phillips, 26, of Solihull near Birmingham, was returning from a world championship equestrian event with her parents when their route to the ferry terminal was blocked by felled trees.

Up to 10 migrants then jumped out of the bushes on the roadside and threatened them with bats and tree branches.

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Team GB horse rider, Lucy Phillips was with 18-year-old Pitucelli when the attack occurred

The attack occurred near the jungle camp in Calais where about 9000 refugees live. Drivers who regularly use the French port say migrants are resorting to increasingly desperate and hostile measures to get to the UK

Dressed head to toe in black, theyoung men started hitting the side of the horsebox and then smashed a passenger window.

When Miss Phillips jumped into the back of the truck to calm her horse down, she heard the migrants trying to get in through the side door.

The horsewoman, who represents Britain in equestrian vaulting, pulled the handle of the door towards her to stop the young men from getting inside.

She told her father Bill, 68, to beep the horn, which he did until French riot police arrived.

Her mother Liz, 63, suffered cuts to her face and her father received cuts to his arm.

Miss Phillips was on her way back from representing Britain in equestrian vaulting, commonly described as gymnastics on horseback, in Le Mans when her horsebox was set upon at 1.30am.

Lucy also works