A BBC news reporter has been attacked by a stranger moments before going live on air.

Lauren Moss, the corporation’s south east political editor, said she was preparing to broadcast from Brighton when a man threw a cup of hot chocolate over her.

He is reported to have screamed obscenities about the broadcaster – currently the subject of a charged national debate on funding and balance – before making off.

Describing the incident on Twitter, Ms Moss wrote: “Pretty distressing day in Brighton so far. A member of the public threw a cup of hot chocolate at me and screamed abuse about how he hates the BBC, literally moments before I went on air.”.

She added: "Someone may not approve of my work or who I work for but I am a journalist just doing my job. Anti-media feeling like this is very concerning for anyone in the industry."

She said she had not been hurt in the incident but had been left shaken up.

“I think it is important to raise this and discuss it though as a wider issue and concern,” she noted.

It comes after it was reported this week that Downing Street is looking to replace the BBC’s licence fee with a subscription service model that would also see certain channels sold off. That itself comes on the back of an apparent belief at the heart of government that the corporation is fundamentally bias against the Conservatives and leaving the EU.

A BBC spokesperson said: “Nothing is more important than the safety of our staff. This has been reported to the police.”

Sussex Police has been contacted for comment.

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