Police are investigating after an East Devon farm shop was allegedly targeted by a group of ‘militant’ vegans.

Exmouth Journal: All the pheasants hanging up outside the shop were spray painted. Picture: Contributed.All the pheasants hanging up outside the shop were spray painted. Picture: Contributed. (Image: Archant)

Death threats have allegedly been sent to staff at an East Devon farm shop by ‘militant’ vegans after it posted a Christmas turkey offer online.

Greendale Farm Shop, Woodbury Salterton, incurred the wrath of a group of vegans this week when it posted a photo of turkeys to social media.

The farm shop’s social media post invited customers to come to the shop, name a turkey and then help raise it in the run up to Christmas.

The post triggered a torrent of abuse against the farm shop and its staff coupled with death threats and graffiti across the entrance to the farm shop saying ‘Murder! Go Vegan!’.

Exmouth Journal: Greendale Farm Shop near Woodbury Salterton. Picture: Contributed.Greendale Farm Shop near Woodbury Salterton. Picture: Contributed. (Image: Archant)

Customers were also targeted with threats, a farm shop spokesman explained: “In one case, I had a lady contact the farm shop to apologise for deleting her positive review because she was so worried about the terrible attacks she had received personally from the vegan groups.”

“We thought that giving customers the opportunity to name a turkey and then help to raise it would teach our customers’ children important lessons about the food chain.”

Two days after the online abuse first started, staff opening the shop were greeted with graffiti across the doors and spray paint across all of the pheasants outside the shop.

One man called the shop and asked to speak to the butcher, he reportedly said: “How would you like it if I cut you up and put you on the counter?”

When the butcher repeatedly asked who it was, the man reportedly responded by saying: “I am a member of the vegan mafia and we aren’t going to go away until we stop the murder, marketing and profiteering off innocent animals.”

In a somewhat bizarre turn of events, the uproar from the vegans has actually led to a boost in turkey sales for the shop in the last few days.

The vandalism and death threats have been reported to the local police.

Neighbourhood Beat Manager Dave Pilling, said: “I have today visited Greendale Farm and met with the owner and staff, following the criminal damage to the shop front and produce sustained overnight on Monday.

“I am also aware of some alarming calls made to the store in recent days; I will be meeting one of the people who were subjected to this abuse in the coming days to follow up on this matter.

“Criminal damage and making malicious calls is against the law and will not be tolerated; regardless of individuals’ views, these actions are simply not acceptable and cannot be justified. Police enquires are underway into this matter, anyone with any information is asked to contact 101@dc.police.uk.”