Warnings that a new statue of Margaret Thatcher would attract egg-throwing protests came true within two hours of its being installed in her home town of Grantham on Sunday.

The bronze statue was, without ceremony, placed on a 3-metre (10ft) high plinth to make it more difficult for protesters to inflict any damage.

Shortly afterwards a man was seen throwing eggs from behind a temporary fence and, when one connected, a cry of “oi” could be heard.  ...

...loud booing could also be heard from passing motorists.

The Labour councillor Lee Steptoe said the egg-throwing was “absolutely inevitable”. “The statue was always going to be a prime target for petty vandalism and political protest. She was the most divisive prime minister probably in history and certainly in my lifetime,” he said.

He added that now the statue was up, the challenge was to “concentrate on the cost of modern-day Tory policies which are driving millions of people to food banks”.  ...