Conservative peer Baroness Sayeeda Warsi has been pelted with eggs by Islamic extremists during a visit to Luton.

The peer, shadow minister for community cohesion and social action, was beginning a walkabout with local Conservative party members and Luton South parliamentary candidate Nigel Huddleston when she came under attack.

Eggs were thrown at the party, with one hitting Baroness Warsi on the side of the head, and the group hurled insults at her.

Baroness Warsi said: "They started shouting and screaming. Our initial reaction was to move away but then I said to them, 'Let's have a debate.'

"But they couldn't articulate what they wanted to say, they just wanted to be aggressive. I told them there was nothing in their conduct that was in accordance with the faith of Islam and that obviously touched a raw nerve with them."

The men are believed to be from the same group that protested during the Poachers' homecoming parade in March this year.

One of them was Saiful Islam, a member of the controversial Islamist group Al Muhajiroun, which wants Sharia law to be implemented in Britain.

He said: "Baroness Warsi purports to be a Muslim but really she's just pushing a government agenda. She should be received with condemnation. She is clearly in opposition to Sharia."

There were further ugly scenes when the Baroness, protected by a police escort, was confronted a second time as she returned to the Beech Hill Conservative Club in Leagrave Road for a reception in her honour.