Eggs and a bottle of what appeared to be milkshake were thrown as protesters attempted to disrupt a Tommy Robinson rally in Merseyside.

Demonstrators sat in the road to block traffic, chanted and waved anti-racist placards ahead of the far-right activist’s arrival in Bootle on Sunday afternoon.

More than 50 police officers separated the group from Robinson’s supporters, who shouted: “Tommy’s going to be your MEP.”

Scuffles broke out as a van, used by Robinson’s European Parliament elections campaign team, arrived in Douglas Place.

Eggs hit the windscreen of the van and a bottle containing a milk liquid was hurled from the crowd.

"Stephen Yakult Lennon" - The British public vs Tommy Robinson Show all 7 1 /7 "Stephen Yakult Lennon" - The British public vs Tommy Robinson "Stephen Yakult Lennon" - The British public vs Tommy Robinson Covered in a milkshake... While out on the campaign trail for the European Elections in Warrington, a man threw a milkshake in Tommy's face. Frame 1: Man throws milkshake. Frame 2: Robinson & Co beat man. Frame 3: Robinson covered in milkshake. @AzTheBaz/Twitter "Stephen Yakult Lennon" - The British public vs Tommy Robinson ...the day after being covered with a milkshake The day before in Bury, a suspected child threw a milkshake over Robinson before running away Paul Ryder/Youtube "Stephen Yakult Lennon" - The British public vs Tommy Robinson Confronted for his racism... Back in 2014, Robinson was not warmly received in his home town of Luton... ABC "Stephen Yakult Lennon" - The British public vs Tommy Robinson ...falls over while cowering away ...In attempting to back away from the three advancing men, he fell over a curb ABC "Stephen Yakult Lennon" - The British public vs Tommy Robinson Slapped in Luton The slap came as then-EDL leader was trying to drive away directly after making the subtitled comment Round8ere/Youtube "Stephen Yakult Lennon" - The British public vs Tommy Robinson Shouted down in Salford When trying to spread his message to the streets of Salford, this woman told him where to get off Beth Redmond/Twitter "Stephen Yakult Lennon" - The British public vs Tommy Robinson "You're not as famous as you think you are" A judge at Peterborough County Court explained this to Robinson as she dismissed his discrimination case against the police. Robinson had claimed that he was ejected from a pub on account of his beliefs, however the officer didn't recognise him and was ejecting him on account of his drunken behaviour PA

Robinson, who is standing as an independent candidate for North West England in Thursday’s vote, was escorted by police through a back alley.

He was greeted by cheers from his own supporters while counter-protesters booed and shouted “fascist scum”.

Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, spoke at the rally for around an hour before being escorted away by police.

Bootle MP Peter Dowd, who joined the counter-demonstrators, said Merseyside Police should have called off the visit.

He wrote on Twitter: “Stephen Yaxley-Lennon aka fascist Tommy Robinson isn’t wanted in Bootle. Don’t bother coming here.”

Anti-far-right activists have regularly adopted the tactic of throwing milkshakes as a form of protest at candidates – possibly because milk has previously been used as a symbol of the far-right and white supremacy.

Robinson was hit with milkshakes twice in two days in Bury and Warrington earlier this month.

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And on Sunday afternoon UKIP MEP candidate Carl Benjamin had a milkshake thrown over him while campaigning in Salisbury – the fourth time in a week.