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Theresa May has been heckled by anti-fox hunting protesters at a hustings debate in her own constituency.

The Tory leader was interrupted by shouts as she defended her promise of a vote to scrap Labour's hunting ban.

According to the Maidenhead Advertiser, the hecklers at a methodist church on Saturday night were members of the Hunt Saboteurs Association.

An audience member had apparently questioned why Mrs May wants to bring back the cruel bloodsport when the vast majority of the Brtiish public want to keep the ban.

Mrs May replied: “You’re either in favour of fox hunting or you’re against it and some people feel passionately on both sides of this."

There were shouts of protest by several people - who were told to be quiet by the debate's moderator.

(Image: Getty)

Mrs May continued: "I was brought up in the countryside and yes, I do support fox hunting.

"And in the Conservative party manifesto there would be a free vote of members of parliament. It would not be whipped by party.”

Mrs May has a thumping 66% of the vote in her Maidenhead constituency with the Labour candidate winning just 12% in 2015.

The heckles came ahead of thousands of protesters descending on Downing Street today to urge Mrs May not to scrap the ban.

Organisers estimated 2,200 people called on the Tory leader to ‘Make Hunting History’ in what they claimed was one of the largest animal rights protests in recent years.

(Image: WENN) (Image: WENN)

(Image: WENN)

Shouts of "no excuse for animal abuse" and "cull the Tories, keep the ban" rang out as activists of all ages made their way from London's Oxford Circus.

Today’s march was organised by an alliance of anti-hunt campaign groups who want Mrs May to change her mind on allowing a free vote to repeal Labour's Hunting Act.

Speakers were due to include actor and animal rights activist Peter Egan, wildlife campaigner and writer Dominic Dyer and naturalist and TV presenter Anneka Svenska.

Springwatch presenter Chris Packham also showed his support, saying: “The ugly spectre of a legal return to fox hunting is an insult to democracy and a repugnant stain on the efforts of conservationists everywhere. We like life. We love life. All life.

“And we seek to protect and preserve it, we want as much of it to remain so our children can cherish it. The organised savagery that sees wild animals pursued and pulled to pieces by dogs is utterly incompatible with that.”