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A vegan campaigner was threatened with arrest after chalking slogans outside a fast food restaurant in Swansea - prompting anger from some customers.

Swansea University student Eiren Donnelly staged his protest in Oxford Street, Swansea city centre, outside McDonald's.

A committed vegan, he wrote messages on the pavement in chalk advocating the diet - including 'Respect life be vegan' and 'Eating animals is linked to heart disease'.

But his actions upset some customers, and police were called.

After being spoken to by city rangers, Mr Donnelly is then seen on a video of the incident being warned by police officers he faced arrest for a public order offence.

The moment Eiren Donnelly is confronted over his actions:

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(Image: Robert Melen)

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The 21-year-old said: “Veganism for me is all encompassing, it is about compassion knowing no boundaries.

“It is something ultimately I suppose I am prepared to be arrested for, but I didn’t think on this occasion I was going to be.

“But for me, whatever social repercussions I may endure by advocating veganism are entirely worth it, because the suffering animals endure is not comparable to social isolation or loss of friendships.

“I became a vegan at the beginning of last year, and I got involved in activism a few months after that.

“The reason I chose to advocate for veganism is because I felt almost lost, no sense of direction. I was on a degree course but did not know what career or life course to pursue after my course, until I discovered veganism.

“When I did, it was almost like a magic pill. It’s this one small change in mindset that if everyone did it I believe the world would be significantly more peaceful. It is better for human health, better for the planet.

“I am not suffering in any comparable way to the way animals suffer and twenty years I contributed to their suffering

“I feel indebted and I am obligated to make amends for the suffering I caused unknowingly.”

(Image: Robert Melen)

Some of the chalked messages in the pavement protest Peace begins on your plate Respect life be vegan Watch ‘Dairy is scary’ on You Tube Eating animals is linked to heart disease Be kind be vegan Baby male cows are killed for dairy

Diners in McDonalds who were affronted by Mr Donnelly’s protest came out of the fast food branch and confronted him - with one having to be held back.

The video of the incident shows city centre rangers first coming to speak to him, followed by police officers.

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They advised him he faced arrest for using words, language or behaviour that caused people to become harassed, alarmed or distressed.

(Image: Robert Melen)

Mr Donnelly argued that he found the meat industry offensive.

But he wasn’t arrested, and left after speaking with officers.

A South Wales Police spokesman added: "South Wales Police officers will facilitate peaceful protest while balancing the needs and rights of the wider community and ensuring public safety".

McDonald's has been asked if it wishes to comment.