When police refused to allow the protesters from the Southern Animal Rights Coalition to march to the lab en masse, the mood turned angry and five women staged a sit-down protest.

About 80 protesters from across the South met in the Mill Lane car park on Saturday before a short march to The Square in the village centre, which required a section of the A32 to be shut for 15 minutes.

Trouble started when the police refused to allow the group to go from The Square to the lab entrance to lay flowers and hold a minute's silence – as they had in previous years.

Police formed a cordon across the road and told them only a small number would be allowed to go to the lab to lay flowers.

When protesters were told to disperse, five women staged a sit-down protest before being forced to move by police.