Angry French fishermen were no match for an Oxfordshire man who managed to break his way through an illegal blockade.

Rob Allen, 44, had stopped for the night in a harbour in Cherbourg, north west France, ahead of a diving expedition with friends.

But when they awoke the next day, they found French fishermen had barricaded the harbour - in a protest about rising diesel prices - and were told they were not allowed to leave.

Facing the prospect of being stranded in France, the group of divers did what any Brit would do - make a daring dash for it.

Mr Allen, of Coopers Gate, Banbury - who has been diving for 25 years - said: "We didn't really know what was going on at first.

"But when they said we might have to stay there for a couple of days, we decided we had to do something.

"There were 10 of us on the boat and we weren't going to just let them stop us. We had to get back for work.

"There was a steel rope going across the harbour and we decided to get into our gear and go underwater and cut it so we could get out."

But just as they were about to go into the water, they saw a local fisherman sneaking out of the harbour.

He said: "We said to each other I think we have got a chance here' - and we decided to make a run for it.

"As we were leaving the harbour the French fishermen started shouting abuse at us. Our captain, Steve Johnson, said to them sorry - and best of luck - but we have to get home'.

"When we got out of the harbour, the chase boat that set off after the French fisherman started heading back and came straight for us.

"They were aiming at us, then at the last minute they turned so they were alongside us and then started throwing full bottles of beer, bits of lead and loads of things straight at us.

"We all had to duck for cover and luckily no-one got hit, but I hate to think what would have happened if they had. They just didn't care."

The French - renowned for holding strikes and taking direct action - set up the barricade to protest against the French government's decision to hike up the cost of diesel.

Mr Allen said: "I wasn't a great lover of the French before this happened and this has just made it worse.

"I completely respect people's right to protest, but they were just holding people hostage and subjecting them to violence."

Mr Allen returned homethe day after breaking through the barricade and immediately told his partner Becky, 35.

He said: "She didn't believe me, she thought that I was just exaggerating.

"It wasn't until she saw me in a Sunday paper that she realised how bad it was.

"She had to go out and buy me a present because she felt guilty."