This is the moment a group of angry vegan protestors clashed with butchers as they demonstrated at a shopping centre.

The animal rights campaigners staged a sit in outside the meat stalls - even setting up police-style tape around themselves.

The group - known as Direct Action Yorkshire - are an offshoot of an international campaign to promote veganism.

This is the moment a blind vegan activist falls to the floor amid a demonstration outside a butcher shop in a Sheffield shopping centre

Angry shoppers remonstrated with the protesters who sat down in front of a line of butcher stalls at the Moor Market in Sheffield

One man, objecting to the protest held up a sign claiming: 'Sorry we killed the cow... but it was eating your dinner'

Within seconds, a blind vegan activist topples to the floor following an alleged confrontation off camera.

But police have closed the investigation after examining CCTV evidence.

The man - wearing a 100 per cent vegan T-shirt and carrying a white stick - scrabbles around on the ground as he tries to get up.

The protest took place at Moor Market in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, and members of the public soon rallied round to challenge the vegan group.

As he points a finger at the group, one can be heard saying: 'The state of you putting all these people out of a job. You are a disgrace.'

Another person shouts: 'Meat is not murder' and a butcher can be seen parading around the group with a sale sign.

Meanwhile an elderly gentleman waves a sale sign for sirloin steak at the protesters whilst an unknown voice shouts: 'Want to see my meat b****?'

One protester can be heard shouting: 'They are sentient beings just like us.

'They deserve to be safe and free from harm just like us. They have a capacity to experience grief or joy just like us.

'So why make them suffer? They deserve to be happy and healthy just like us.

'Just like our beloved pets. Why love one and not another?'

As the crowd jeer the protesters in the incident on Saturday around 11am, one member of the market can be seen putting his hand around an activists shoulders, whilst others shout 'Get a job.'

The protest took place in front of Mick's Grade A Meats but it is understood that staff from the butchers were not involved.

There are at least six butchers in the market - which is famous for its high quality produce.

Protestor Belinda White, 48, said the group were left shaken by the reaction.

She added: 'There's a long strip of butchers at the Moor Market so it was a really good place to do a demonstration.

'The whole point is to go to place that normalise abuse, promotion and sale of beings.'

A South Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: 'Officers received reports of an assault at The Moor Market in Sheffield. It was reported that a 53-year-old man was pushed to the floor by his backpack. The victim didn't sustain any injuries.

'Officers interviewed witnesses and reviewed CCTV footage in the surrounding area.

'There was no evidence to support the investigation, which has now been closed.'

The Moor Market has been contacted for comment.