A butcher hit back at flower-clutching vegans who staged a silent protest outside his shop by trolling them with a hilarious sign.

The pair of anonymous campaigners arrived outside Arthur's Butchery and Delicatessen in the affluent village of Topsham in Devon on Thursday afternoon.

Owner Billy Chibouni was flabbergasted when the duo, who refused to be named, plonked themselves outside his store.

Each silently holding a floral bouquet, the pair stood behind a solemn sign which read: 'in memory of the animals who didn't want to die'.

Pictured: The pair of anonymous campaigners arrived outside Arthur's Butchery and Delicatessen in the affluent village of Topsham in Devon on Thursday afternoon

An onlooker noted how the pair appeared to be flouting their own morals by wearing a sheepskin coat and leather shoes.

Mr Chibouni came up with an innovative way to respond - by scrawling his own message on an envelope and standing beside them.

His quickly sketched sign on the back of an envelope including drawings of a bull and a dollop of poo.

The vegan duo didn't reveal their identities only admitting to be part of a 'global movement'.

They claim to have picked the shop at random and that they were moving from place to place - leaving after two hours.

Owner Billy Chibouni was flabbergasted when the duo, who refused to be named, plonked themselves outside his store

Mother-of-one Meia Allegranza popped to Arthur's Butchery and Delicatessan in Topsham, Devon, yesterday and was left baffled by the incident.

The professional photographer said: 'I went to get some top beef for sandwiches, I love high street shops like Arthur's.

'This couple of muppets were stood in their sheepskin coats and leather shoes holding flowers.

'I was enraged that someone picked such an inappropriate place to do their protest.

'This couple of muppets were stood in their sheepskin coats and leather shoes holding flowers.

'They don't want any discomfort to themselves they probably do it in Topsham so they can get a latte and do their salutations afterwards - and of course it would look better on their Instagram.

'I just thought how dare you, go away. I love that we are a democracy but take it somewhere else like an abattoir.'

Business co-owner Billy, 31, said he wanted to respond to the protesters in a peaceful way so quickly sketched his views on an envelope and stood silently alongside them

Business co-owner Billy, 31, said he wanted to respond to the protesters in a peaceful way so quickly sketched his views on an envelope and stood silently alongside them.

The father-of-one said: 'We were a little bit frustrated when they arrived. I chatted to them and then decided to speak my mind.

'Rather than write it down I decided that maybe pictures would be better.

'I've felt like Justin Bieber since it happened - everyone's been coming in and speaking about it.'

We were a little bit frustrated when they arrived. I chatted to them and then decided to speak my mind

His wife Alx Chibouni took over the family business when her mother Sheila Piranian, who ran the shop for 33 years, died of dementia four months ago.

The 32-year-old said: 'I felt victimised when they arrived, there are lots of shops nearby. I just thought 'why us?'

'We are just a local business trying to support local farmers. We are very careful about where we get our meat and products from.

'We don't want to buy from places that are exploitative and horrible to animals - that's very important to us.'