PRIME Minister Theresa May came face to face with anti-Brexit protestors on Saturday during a visit to Abingdon.

The PM was greeted by a vocal group of pro-EU campaigners at the Long Furlong community centre at around 11am as she met with Conservative candidates ahead of next month’s Vale of White Horse District Council elections.

Mrs May then joined candidates canvassing on the doorsteps of the town as the Tory district election campaign got underway.

However, a group of around 40 protesters held anti-Brexit placards chanting in support for a people’s vote on the Brexit deal as Mrs May first arrived at the community centre in Boulter Drive.

The PM, who last week wrote to EU leaders to ask for a June extension to the Brexit deadline, did not acknowledge the band of campaigners from Oxford for Europe and local Lib Dem councillors as she arrived.

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Mrs May's meeting with around 100 local members of the Conservative party had been kept under wraps before her arrival and lasted around 40 minutes.

Leader of Oxford City Council Liberal Democrat group, Andrew Gant, who was at the protest said: “As so often is the case with this Prime Minister she was whisked from her car into a closed meeting without any sort of acknowledgement that there were people there.

“As we know from the 2017 elections this is her style.

“It’s a private meeting but at the same time the local press weren’t told – why is this Prime Minister so afraid and unwilling to engage with local democracy?”

While Liberal Democrat candidate for Abingdon Dunmore in the upcoming elections Andrew Foulsham added: “It’s a good turn out – there is a lot of people who wanted to make their voices heard.”

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Chair of Oxford for Europe, Dr Peter Burke said the group’s aim was to send a message that a People’s Vote on any final Brexit deal was in the ‘best interests of democracy’.

He added: “We had been notified of her visit and we felt it was important for our presence to be felt here today.”

While Tory county councillor, Liam Walker tweeted a message saying it was 'great to catch up' with the PM.

Conservative Parliamentary candidate James Fredrickson said: “It was fantastic to have the PM meet our local team and head out on the doorstep with us.

"Regardless of people’s position on Brexit, there was overwhelming admiration for her commitment and sense of public duty”.

Tory candidate for Abingdon Dunmore Sandy Lovatt joined the Prime Minister on the doorstep. 

Commenting afterwards he said: “There was a fantastic response from voters – people couldn’t believe the Prime Minister had taken time out of her busy schedule to come and hear their concerns.”

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The UK is currently due to leave the EU on April 12 and, as yet, no withdrawal deal has been approved by MPs.

The last time the PM came to Abingdon she received a mixed reception with one resident berating the PM about changes to support for disabled people.

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The visit was part of her election campaign tour in 2017.

Mrs May joined then local Conservative election candidate Nicola Blackwood for a whirlwind visit to the town.