An ongoing conflict between disruptive vegan protest groups and anti-vegan counter-protesters reached a stomach-churning new low today as a man ate a raw pig's head outside a vegan food festival in Brighton.

VegFest 2019 is in full swing in the Brighton Centre - a venue better known for hosting party conferences - but one bearded, ponytailed alleged carnivore stood outside to make his own statement.

The 'protester' was confronted by members of the Brighton chapter of Direct Action Everywhere, an animal rights group, holding 'it's not food, it's violence and 'meat is murder' signs, the Brighton and Hove Independent reported.

Pictures show the man bringing the raw pig's head directly to his mouth to make his point

The protester holds the head surrounded by placards. The man and his affiliation have not been confirmed. Shortly afterwards the vegan protest group issued a statement to say 'people don't like seeing the faces of the animals they eat'

Pictures show the meat-eater bringing the raw pig's head directly to his mouth and tearing off flesh - with no apparent sign of enjoyment.

The man and his affiliations have not yet been confirmed. Shortly after the pictures were disseminated, the vegan group issued a statement referring to how uncomfortable meat-eaters are made by 'seeing the faces of the animals they eat'.

It follows several 'direct action' protests by the pro-vegan group in the city, including marching into a restaurant with 'meat is murder' signs, and blocking shoppers' access to food in a supermarket.

Tim Barford, Vegfest UK manager, told the paper: 'We knew about the planned protest and were expecting 30 protestors.

'Three turned up, which was slightly sad for them and reminiscent of a Nigel Farage march.

'But they proceeded to upset kids and members of the public, and with that in mind, the police arrived, gave them a warning and sent them packing.

'What was interesting was that we had meat eating members of the public saying that this revolting spectacle had encouraged them to give up eating meat – so it seems the anti vegan protest actually encouraged people to go vegan.'

VegfestUK Brighton is a two day event taking place on Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24, at the Brighton Centre.

The group posted about their November demonstration on Facebook, and said they were highlighting the 'mass killing of innocent animals' in a 'public and non violent way'

One of the protesters held up a sign with a cow on it with the slogan 'I want to live'

In December DxE Brighton formed a human chain around the meat aisle in Waitrose

According to DxE, more than ten million pigs, aged about five to six months old, are killed each year in slaughterhouses.

In November, members of the group who stormed a Brighton steakhouse, chanted 'it's not meat it's violence' and played sounds of cows being slaughtered were shouted down by a stag party who sang back at them 'stand up if you love meat'.

The following month, a group protested holding shocking placards and forming a human chain around Christmas turkeys in Waitrose in Hove.

But on Good Morning Britain Piers Morgan challenged three group members - Ashti, Ella and Dylan - who refused to answer whether their parents eat meat.

When they finally admitted some of their parents are not vegan like them, the GMB presenter claimed they should be protesting against their parents - instead of 'terrorising old people in supermarkets'.