Anti-Brexit campaigners were pelted with eggs as they talked to shoppers in a Gloucestershire high street.

Members of Cheltenham for Europe had set up their stall in their usual place on the town's High Street when the first egg landed.

As they looked around bewildered other eggs broke on the stall and campaigner Nikki Robson noticed they were coming from the direction of two middle aged men.

As she followed them down the High Street from Regent Arcade towards Marks & Spencers one of the men threw several more eggs in her direction.

One did make slight contact with Nikki and the men fled when they realised she was filming and taking pictures on her phone.

A previous Cheltenham for Europe event on the High Street

Nikki, who says she recognised the egg thrower as an “vociferous” Brexiteer, said she was surprised by the incident.

The group, who are campaigning for a People's Vote on the final deal, have had a stall in the town centre since January 2017.

“We’d had a good morning talking to lots of people about how they thought Brexit was going and what they wanted to happen next when some eggs came flying over and made a mess," she said.

“We were a bit perplexed because we were in mid-conversation and at first it felt like a bird.

“Then I noticed two men and one seemed to be taking eggs from his pocket and lobbing them in the the air so they would land on our stall."

Once they realised they had been spotted the two men, described as aged in heir 40s or 50s, tried to walk away, but Nikki followed.

“As I followed them down the High Street he foolishly continued to throw eggs at me until he realised I was taking photos and then he stopped.

"One did make contact but it was so minor I didn't really feel it. They both just high tailed it away after that.

“Nobody was hurt and we will not let this affect what we do, but it's just not the sort of thing you expect to happen in Cheltenham town centre."

Eggs on the floor by the stall

The incident came around 1pm on Saturday as feelings over Brexit reached fever pitch amid turmoil on the national stage.

As the day went on it emerged that Brexiteers angry with the current deal do not yet have nearly enough support to lodge a motion of no confidence in Prime Minister Theresa May.

The current entrance to the Regent Arcade in High Street, Cheltenham
The current entrance to the Regent Arcade in High Street, Cheltenham

According to the national newspapers Brexiteers are 11 letters short of the 48 MPs needed for the 1922 committee to trigger a vote.

Many pro Brexit supports are frustrated that five leading Brexiteers in the cabinet have not resigned.

Yet despite the heightened tensions at national level, campaigners were still surprised to by the actions of the man who through the eggs.

Cheltenham for Europe is a non-party political organisation and has had a stall on the High Street since January 2017.

Cheltenham for Europe protesting against Brexit in London in March 2017

“IWe have not had anything like that before,” she said.

“We live in a democracy and 99 per cent of people understand that and accept that people can have different points of view.

“We’ve had hundreds and hundreds of conversations about this over the last year or so.

"The vast majority of people have agreed with us but some have disagreed and we have still shook hands and agreed to disagree at the end of it.”