Police are investigating after an elderly army veteran was reportedly attacked with a milkshake outside a polling station in Aldershot.
Images of Don Naughton, who served in the Parachute Regiment for two decades, circulated online showing the smartly-dressed 82-year-old with pink milkshake on his shirt and tie.
The Brexit Party supporter was standing outside the North Town Community Base in the Hampshire town when the incident occurred.
A man riding a bicycle allegedly attacked the pensioner after spotting his Brexit Party rosette, witnesses said.
Twitter user Dominic Farrell claimed the elderly man is a “very popular man in the local community”.
“Bloke on a cycle passed by, saw his rosette, gave him the finger and abuse, then went to a shop, bought the milkshake and attacked him,” he said.
He added: “Many are very angry about this. Thoroughly disgusting.
Lucy Blackman, who saw the pensioner on Thursday morning, wrote on Facebook: “This poor man was covered with milkshake this morning by a disrespectful yob!
“Whatever you are voting it’s a democracy and we should be able to have a say without acts of violence! ’This could have been acid or anything! What has this country come to!”
MacNaughton moved to the UK in 1960 and joined the Parachute Regiment, serving around the world until 1982, the Daily Telegraph reported.
He has also penned two books based on his time in the military.
Hampshire Police said in a statement: “We received a report at 10.06am from a third party about an assault on a man in his 80s at North Lane, Aldershot. We are investigating the incident and are trying to make contact with the victim.”
It comes after Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage was targeted with a milkshake during a visit to Newcastle city centre on Tuesday afternoon.
Paul Crowther, 32, was charged with common assault and criminal damage following the incident.