POLICE were called to Morrisons on Saturday morning after Devizes MP Claire Perry claimed she had been assaulted.

Sylvia Card, vice chairman of Marlborough Labour Party, said a small group of protesters had gathered outside the Devizes supermarket to co-incide with a surgery being help by the MP.

But it is understood Mrs Perry took exception to being touched on her shoulder by one of the protesters, who wanted to get her attention, and police were called.

Sgt Vincent Logue, of Devizes police, said: "This was a peaceful protest. We were called but no action was taken. This was not a police matter."

Ms Card said: "Instead of allowing the protesters to make their point, however much she may have disagreed with them, this peaceful protest was turned into a confrontation by Clare Perry.

"She accused one protester of assault and called the police. This total over reaction by an MP who consistently fails to respond to her electors genuine concerns over issues from tax credit cuts to environmental issues clearly demonstrates that she is unwilling or unable to engage with any form of challenge.

"The aim of the protest was to highlight the many areas of policy that this government has reneged on in the short time since the general election.

"The Conservatives said they would seek to eliminate child poverty, instead they have just changed the way poverty is measured so reducing the figures. They said they would stand up for working families but have turned their backs on workers in the steel industry.

"They said they would introduce tax free child care by Autumn 2015 but have now delayed this until 2017. They said they cared about the environment but are scrapping the green deal."

The protest was organised by The People's Assembly Against Austerity.