A kayaker was left "shaken" after a group of teenage swimmers allegedly abused and threatened him.

Darren Evans said he was kayaking along the River Tone at Taunton in Somerset on Sunday when two teenage boys swam up to him and started hurling abuse.

"They were planning to come and capsize me - that would have been extremely dangerous," said Evans, 53, who managed to get away but then was trapped and unable to paddle back past the group.

Police were called and arrested one of the boys, but Evans said another of the boys threatened to kill him before being taken away by his mother.

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Evans had launched his kayak by Taunton Canoe Club near Priory Bridge Road at about 16:50 BST and encountered a group of 10 teenagers, six of whom were in the river.

"Two deliberately started to swim towards the kayak claiming that they 'could not swim' which I knew to be a lie," he said.

He managed to paddle away but then found himself trapped between the group and Firepool Weir.

"There was nowhere for me to get out, so I had no choice but to call the police," he said, adding officers arrived about 30 minutes later.

"They [the teenagers] were shouting from the bridge - the abuse was constant."

Evans said the group also deliberately pulled a life buoy ring from its cabinet and left it in the water. The discarded ring was visible floating on the river when the BBC visited the area on Monday.

He said the police spoke to the group and escorted them away, which allowed him to get back onto the bank.

Avon and Somerset Police said it had received reports that a "group of teenagers were acting in an anti-social manner and had threatened a kayaker".

"One teenager was identified as the main suspect, but they refused to provide their details for further enquiries so they were arrested," the force added.

"The officer spoke with the child's parent and his details were provided and he was subsequently de-arrested at scene."

Evans said another teenager also approached him.

"He came right up to my face and threatened to kill me - his mother had to come and take him away," he added.

Evans is an experienced kayak instructor, but this was his first trip out in Taunton, having moved from Plymouth 18 months ago.

Reflecting on the incident, which has left him "really shaken", he said: "Deliberately capsizing a kayaker can be life-threatening.

"I don't know what's in that water under me... I just wish that these kids understand the dangers.

"I was hoping to organise something on the river, using my experience, but I don't know if I will now.

"I've been kayaking for over 40 years in some challenging situations but I've never felt more frightened then yesterday."

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