AN ELDERLY man ended up in a canal near Kendal after challenging three men over bags of fish they were carrying, said police.

At around 8.30am on Tuesday the man approached the men on the banks of the canal at Crooklands regarding two bags of fish they were carrying. 

Police said the males were abusive and the elderly men ended up in the canal. His holdall was also stolen, they said.

The males were on foot and walked off towards Stainton along the canal. 

Police described them as white. One was around 50-years-old, 5'8" tall with grey hair and the other two were 30-years-old, around 6' tall - both wearing beanie hats and one wearing a camouflaged jacket. 

They were carrying the fish in dark plastic bags with no writing on.

If anyone has any information contact PC 1085 Kate Sutton on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.