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, the young 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 as a model. She spoke out to highlight the increase of violent attacks in Calais

Acrobatic horseplay: Lucy Philips competing her horse emblazoned with the Union Jack

Phillips, 26, represents Britain in the event of equestrian vaulting with her horse

Miss Phillips said she had seen migrants running alongside lorries heading to the port before but ‘never blocking the road or being that violent’

Lucy said of the attack: ‘They’d put a branch through the passenger window of the cab and my mum and dad were covered in glass. Mum’s face was bleeding, so was Dad’s arm'

The rider, who also works as a model, decided to speak out to highlight the increase in violent attacks carried out by migrants living in The Jungle camp in Calais.

She said: ‘It was so scary and it seems that over the past couple of months the violence has got worse.

‘It’s horrendous and beyond belief. It’s not just the big trucks they target, they don’t seem to care who they attack anymore.

‘I don’t want to scare people. But anyone going out there needs to be so careful on the way back. We’ve vowed never to travel back at night again.’

Miss Phillips, who lives with her parents in Solihull near Birmingham, said she had previously seen migrants running alongside lorries heading to the port but ‘never blocking the road or being that violent’.

Describing the attack, she said: ‘As we stopped, between seven and 10 men appeared out of the bushes.

Ms Philips said: ‘It’s horrendous and beyond belief. It’s not just the big trucks they target, they don’t seem to care who they attack anymore

Lucy competing her 18-year-old horse Pitucelli at an equestrian vault event

Miss Phillips heard a smash from in the back of the cab with her 18-year-old horse Pitucelli

‘They were carrying big pieces of wood and what looked like bats. They surrounded the lorry and started hitting the sides, and smacking the windows with their bats.’

Miss Phillips, who is fifth in the equestrian vaulting world rankings, said she heard a smash when she was in the back of the cab with her 18-year-old horse Pitucelli.

‘My dad was blowing the horn, trying to get the police’s attention, then I heard a smash,’ she said.

‘They’d put a branch through the passenger window of the cab and my mum and dad were covered in glass. Mum’s face was bleeding, so was Dad’s arm. It felt like forever until the police came.

Lucy Phillips with her horse she was returning with when the attack occurred. Dressed head to toe in black, the young men started hitting the side of the horsebox and smashed a window

‘It was really scary and completely dark. We had been told to beep your horn to get the police’s attention and the migrants were telling us keep quiet.’

The French police ‘chased the migrants away’ and escorted the family away from the area.

An officer then took statements from them after the incident, which took place on August 22.

Drivers who regularly use the French port say migrants are resorting to increasingly desperate and hostile measures to get to the UK.

Every night African and Asian migrants place blockades on the roads to slow lorries down so they can jump on board.

They often threaten the drivers with chainsaws, knives and bats before breaking into their trucks.