POLICE investigating the beating of animal rights campaigner John Gill have released more detailed description of his attackers.

Mr Gill, 53, suffered cuts and severe bruising when three men burst into his home and punched, kicked and struck him with a baseball bat, at 9.30am on Thursday.

Mr Gill, of Front Street, Castleside, near Consett, County Durham, claims he was targeted because of his ongoing destruction of snares in the countryside.

A police spokesman said the first man was 6ft, heavily built and weighing about 18 stone, 30-years-old, with a shaven head. He was wearing a black waist-length black bomber-type jacket and khaki trousers.

The second man was 5ft 10in, of medium build, 30- years-old, with well-groomed short black hair parted on the right side. He was wearing a black leather bomber jacket.

The third man, also in his 30s, was 5ft 10in, with close-cropped mousy hair and brown bomber jacket.

Police are also trying to trace a two-toned short-wheel-based Suzuki 4X4, with a grey bottom half and dark maroon top.

The car was parked in Church Street on the day of the attack and was seen in the area the day before.

Detective Constable Ian Snowdon said: "The victim believes he was attacked because of his beliefs.

"It must have been a terrifying experience - clearly his assailants set out to inflict serious injuries.

"Whatever his beliefs there could be absolutely no justification for this."