Vegan activists protested outside a city takeaway today, comparing the pork-specialising cafe to Auschwitz.

Around a dozen campaigners yelled "It's not food, it's violence" as they marched outside Pork & Co in Canterbury.

The popular cafe in Sun Street specialises in pulled pork rolls made from roasted mature pigs - not suckling pigs - which are laid out in its window display, and campaigners claim this is "inhumane".

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Earlier this week, they sent hate mail to the cafe's Facebook page, with one user describing owner Sam Deeson as “evil incarnate” and another writing. “Let me at him with a pair of scissors”.

Leeann Harcourt-Ronaldson, 22, travelled from Dover for the protest.

She has been a vegan for three years and thinks Pork & Co is "disgusting".

She said: "Having a pig in the window, it is humiliating for that pig. What would someone say if a human was in that window? They wouldn't like it so why do it to an animal?

"There are plenty of other things to eat so why must we harm animals in such a torturous way?"

Video: Vegans protest outside Pork & Co in Canterbury.

But Mr Deeson seemed to have far more fans than opposition this afternoon as dozens of meat-lovers turned up to show their support.

Many say they are confused as to why Pork & Co is being targeted specifically as they pride themselves on serving free range pork.

On their website, they say: "Our pigs here are all free range happy pigs.

"All our rolls and produce are homemade and many of our ingredients come from our smallholding."

One of the many Pork & Co supporters there today was Thomas Laker from Broadstairs who works in the city.

He said: "I think it is wrong that they are picking on one specific shop.

"There are so many other places in Canterbury that sell meat and are far less ethical with their sourcing, but these protesters are making a problem with Pork & Co specifically.

"Using the Auschwitz comparison is really offensive and completely wrong."

Edd Withers from the Canterbury Residents Group was watching the protest outside Pork & Co today.

He said: "I do not think that this group is representative of all vegans and vegetarians.

"They are free to have their own views but when they start making threats and potentially damaging a business, they have taken it too far.

"It's a real shame as the Vegan Festival is taking place today as well and it has taken the attention away from that."

Sam Deeson said today: "I am adamantly against suckling pigs and I am also passionate about the way the animals are kept.

"This is why I keep animals myself. The pig in the window is there for educational purposes so children and adults can learn about what it is they are eating.

"People care about where their food is from and that's why they like eating at Pork & Co.

"It's really nice to see I have so much support from the community here today."

What do you think? Please leave your comments below or perhaps send a letter to kentishgazette@thekmgroup.co.uk