A CAMPAIGNER who travels the world to raise awareness of environmental issues says he was assaulted while staying in Peeblesshire.

Martin Hutchinson, 60, is currently touring the UK and stopped off in Innerleithen last week during Storm Noa.

He took shelter under the stand at Victoria Park, the home of Vale of Leithen, before pitching up for the night there.

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But he says that at around 9.30pm a group of youngsters threw a traffic cone at his tent before striking him on the back of the head with a wooden plank when he looked out.

The 60-year-old took to social media and praised the response of residents in the town.

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Mr Hutchison said: “We arrived in Innerleithen just before the heavy rain came down and found a perfect place to camp in the local football ground under the stand.

“I posted about the incident on [Facebook group] Innerleithen Online and a lot of people posted their support. And one man came out from his nice, warm house to check I was ok.

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“Then in the morning a lovely lady came with porridge and hot coffee, and later another lady came with hot coffee. All the locals were really angry and upset at what had happened.

“Later that morning I went to thank the man who had come out to check on me and had a lovely omelette for lunch.

“The Tweedside Caravan Park gave us a pod for our second night so we were safe and warm.”

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Mr Hutchinson decided against reporting the incident to Police Scotland.

The campaigner and his trusty companion, rescue dog Starsky, have become known as 'Starsky and Hutch, 21st Century Environmental Explorers'.

Since 2006, Mr Hutchinson has walked 34,000km across 21 countries in Central and South America, visiting more than 600 schools and universities to spread his message of caring for the planet.

He has also cycled 36,000km across 16 countries in Europe, dropping in at 175 schools.