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Footage has emerged appearing to show Jacob Rees-Mogg caught up in a fight that erupted whilst he was giving a speech at a university.

Video posted to social media captured the scenes at the University of the West England, in Bristol.

The Tory MP for North East Somerset appears to step in to separate rivals as onlookers call for them stop.

Mr Rees-Mogg, who has been tipped as his party's next leader, had been speaking at the University's Politics and International Relations Society.

Reports on Twitter suggested that the violence had been aimed at the MP, who has sparked controversy in the past with some of his more extreme views.

Political site Guido Fawkes reported a student saying that masks protesters stormed the event and began shouting at Mr Rees-Mogg, calling him a bigot and a racist.

The confrontation kicked off when one of the protesters clashed with an audience member, the site reported.

BBC Somerset reporter James Craig said that the group were shouting "anti-Conservative rhetoric" and "trying to shout him down".

He said: "But rather than halting the event, or ignoring them, Mr Rees-Mogg approached them and walked up to the back of the theatre where they were and tried to talk them down.

"But at that point various other members of the audience got involved as well and that's when this scuffle... happened and a lot of people got involved.

"It looked to me like Jacob Rees-Mogg himself got pushed and shoved, although he insists he wasn't. But it was a really aggressive and unexpected scene."

Angela Rayner, shadow education secretary, tweeted: "My politics are not those of @Jacob_Rees_Mogg however l utterly condemn the behaviour of those tonight who tried to attack him whilst he was due to speak at an event he was invited to.

"It's extremely intimidating for any MP who travels alone to an event to be treated like this."

A post advertising the event on the university's Facebook page said: "This will be a chance to talk to an experienced parliamentarian about the issues of the day, what it's like to be an MP and how you can get there, or perhaps how exactly one pronounces 'Floccinaucinihilipilification'."

The society declined to comment on the incident. A spokesman for the MP has been contacted for comment.

Avon and Somerset Police launched an investigation and appealed for anyone to come forward with mobile phone footage to help the inquiry.

The force said in a statement: "We were called to the University of the West of England's Frenchay campus at about 6.30pm today following a report of a public order incident.

"No arrests were made and an investigation is under way to see if any criminal offences were committed."