A holidaymaker was speared by a stag's antlers as he tried to protect his family at a holiday park.

Benjamin Johnson suffered deep puncture wounds in the thigh and buttock as well as injuries to his knees and ankle as he tried to protect his wife and children, aged seven and eight, from the stag at the Solway Holiday Village, Skinburness, Silloth.

Mr Johnson spent two days in hospital after the attack, which marked the beginning of a long recovery.

Sam Hagan Leisure (UK) Ltd, owner of the holiday village, was landed with a £14,000 fine after admitting two charges of breaching health and safety regulations. The company must also pay £19,703 in legal fees for Allerdale Council.

Company director, Sam Hagan, 62, of Skinburness, was at Carlisle's magistrates' court for the case.

At the time of the incident on 25 October, 2015, signs were displayed saying a walkway was closed because it was rutting season.

David Manning, prosecuting on behalf of Allerdale Council, said Shaun Hill, who was responsible for the deer, allowed the Johnsons to use the closed walkway.

Mr Manning said: "He said words to the effect of the red stag has had his apples and won't be back."

The Johnson family had only walked a short distance when the stag jumped the fence. Mr Johnson tried to usher his family back to safety but the stag followed.

Mr Manning quoted Mr Johnson, saying: "The next thing I remember was hearing a thud from behind. The next few minutes were a blur but I remember taking hold of his antlers and at one point being held up...

"I recall one antler had been stuck in my left thigh. I think the stag came at me several times."

Staff ran to help Mr Johnson and pushed the stag away.

Mr Johnson's injuries were substantial with two to three inch deep punctures in his left thigh and buttock, and wounds to his knees and ankle. He needed surgery to clean the wounds and has since had plastic surgery.

In a personal statement, Mr Johnson said the stag attack left him with scars, pain in his thigh, a fear of wild animals and nightmares.

Mr Johnson has also suffered from about 30 supraventricular tachycardia attacks, where his heart beats very fast because of stress, and was admitted to hospital on three occasions.

Tom Walker, in mitigation, said the company tried to control the risk of the stag but accepted the measures were inadequate.

District Judge Gerald Chalk fined the company £10,000 for failing to ensure non-employees were not exposed to risk to their health and safety and £4,000 for risk to employees.

Sam Hagan Leisure (UK) Ltd agreed to pay the fine, legal fees and victim surcharge - totalling £33,823 - within three months.