POLICE are investigating after company director Harry Fairbank says he was set upon by masked men, kicked, beaten and threatened with a knife as he returned to his home in Wootton Rivers on Monday evening.

Mr Fairbank, who is in his 40s and owns Arlington Packaging at the Salisbury Road Business Park in Pewsey, suffered cuts and bruises as well as a suspected broken rib.

He said: "As I pulled up between 8pm and 8.15pm I noticed the security lights were on but thought nothing more of it.

"A man came up to me wearing the hood of his top up, wearing sunglasses, jogging bottoms and trainers.

"I ran from him around the back of the house, straight into another man wearing either a mask or a balaclava.

"He kicked me to the ground and then there followed a frenzied kicking attack.

"The first assailant produced a knife and threatened me."

Mr Fairbank said that he saw two vehicles in the area, that may have belonged to his attackers.

One was a white Transit van and the other a Volvo estate.

Inspector Ian Stevenson of Marlborough police said officers were called to the house following the incident.

He said: "Although the injuries suffered by the victim seem to be fairly minor, he was very shaken by his experience.

"We are treating this very seriously and are appealing for witnesses."

Anyone with information should contact Marlborough police on 0845 408 7000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Mr Fairbank said the frightening attack had come at a difficult time in his life and it had only added to his worries.

He admitted he is in dispute with former partner Margaret Holman over Tom's Cottage, also in Wootton Rivers.

Mr Holman claims he bought the property as an investment, but his former girlfiend is now living in the house.

He said that he is now trying to have her evicted.

When approached by the Gazette, Ms Holman refused to discuss the matter.

She said: "There is a harassment order against him."

Mr Fairbank said the harrassment order had been served on him after he employed a private investigator.

He said: "The next thing I knew I was being served with a harassment notice."