Picture - The teenagers pinned down after the brawl erupted on the bowling green (Image: Spotted Teignmouth) A Saturday evening bowls match turned into a brawl after a group of teenagers allegedly attacked pensioners, leaving one injured in hospital. The incident unfolded in Teignmouth as The Den hosted Lyme Regis in a regular match at the seaside town last Saturday. But the afternoon turned sour after a group of youths invaded the bowling green armed with stones, and decided to attack an elderly man, leaving him with cuts to his face. The ugly scenes lasted for around half an hour before an off-duty police officer, who was jogging past, intervened to help out taking one of the culprits down.
The teenagers pinned down after the brawl erupted on the bowling green (Image: Spotted Teignmouth)

Pensioners were left terrified after their bowls match was stormed by teenagers who invaded the green.

Youths armed with stones and a chair left the players cowering for cover.

They then focused on one of the elderly players, who was allegedly punched in the face.

The half hour ordeal only ended when an off-duty police officer happened to be jogging past and intervened.

One man, 69, needed hospital treatment with cuts to his face and is now recovering at home.

He said he was too upset to comment but cops have confirmed they are continuing to investigate the the fight which broke out at The Den, Teignmouth, Devon, on June 8.

METROGRAB - Bowls General View of Teignmouth bowl club, Devon
Teignmouth bowl club in Devon (Picture: Google Maps)

It happened during a match between Teignmouth Bowling Club and Lyme Regis.

Police arrested two 14-year-olds on suspicion of assault and affray before releasing them on bail.

Eyewitness and fellow bowler Eric Tose said: ‘These kids have been intimidating people in the resort for years.

‘This was the worst of it. Some people said they had not seen anything like it in their lives. It was dreadful.

‘She took one of the lads down – and he wasn’t going anywhere after that. Another off-duty policeman went to fetch some cuffs.’

Another eyewitness said: ‘There was a group of them lingering by the grounds.

‘After the game one of the players went over to them asking them to leave before they all pounced on him.

‘They came at him with stones and one of them even picked up a metal chair as they raced towards him.

‘He was hit in the face just because we wanted to enjoy our game.

‘Bowls is an old person’s game and we’re all over a certain age.

‘I don’t see why they would do it in the first place.’

Devon and Cornwall Police said: ‘We were called at around 5.15pm following reports of a disturbance at the Teignmouth Bowling Club, The Den.

“Two 14-year-old boys were arrested on suspicion of affray and assault, both have since been released on police bail until 5th July.

‘One person sustained a minor facial injury and was taken to Torbay District Hospital as a precaution.’

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