BORIS Johnson brought frenzied scenes to the streets of Hampshire today as he rallied for Britain to leave the EU.

Hundreds of fans and protesters descended on Winchester High Street as the former Mayor of London brought his Brexit roadshow to town.

Police are also investigating claims a Leave campaigner punched a man dressed as a gorilla in the face and shoved a parish councillor off the 6ft tall monument.

Cllr John Romero has gone to the police alleging he was pushed from Winchester's Buttercross.

Hampshire police believe the same suspect may have punched the costumed ape, who waved inflatable bananas and a placard during Mr Johnson's high street speech.

The leading Tory visited on a busy market day and was mobbed by people as he made his way from the Winchester Royal Hotel.

Snapping selfies and shaking hands with supporters, he was ferried through a 300-strong crowd to the top of the historic Buttercross.

But the event turned sour when Otterbourne parish councillor John Romero fell six feet from the monument and landed on his back.

The 64-year-old says he put a poster in front of Mr Johnson's face, prompting a Leave campaigner to push him with his knee and send him backwards off the steps. 

He said the man “smiled” at him, offered no apology and was seen leaving the rally.

Cllr Romero said: “I could have lost my life there.

“What has happened today has given me questions whether this is something I really want to do if I am not going to be safe.

“It is not an acceptable form of politics – it is a gangsterism.”

Hampshire Police confirmed they were investigating both incidents, with a spokesman adding: "Both incidents are possibly thought to be connected, in relation to the same suspect."

Further allegations of assault have also appeared on social media with people claiming they were also attacked during the rally.

Mr Johnson was followed up the street by the gorilla man as he left the event. The protester's sign said "I eat five in a bunch Boris," an apparent reference to Mr Johnson's erroneous claim that EU rules banned supermarkets from selling more than two bananas in a bunch.

A Vote Leave source said: "A number of campaigners tried to push onto the steps including a man dressed as a gorilla repeatedly trying to push into the crowd.

"We're shocked that anyone may have fallen off it. We'll wait for a police investigation.

"We do not condone any violence at events. There was a concerted effort to try and disrupt this rally from the Remain campaign."

Addressing the crowd in Winchester Boris said: "People should be optimistic about their country, believe in Britain, don't believe the scaremongering. This is the moment by taking back control where we show we can stand on our own two feet and do better than ever before."

Students too young to vote were also among the crowd waving Remain signs.

Jake Mace, a 17-year-old student at Peter Symonds College, said: "This is our chance to get our view heard and what we want for our future.

"We're the next generation and we stand with the EU."

He added: "This is a mainly leadership position for Boris. I think he's doing this because he wants to be the next Conservative leader and not because he genuinely wants to leave the EU."

Brexit supporter Lucy Hamilton, 66, said: "Some of the Remain people were apologising for the behaviour of some of the Remainians. They should have been listening to what Boris was saying."

Mr Johnson and his aides went for lunch at upmarket pub The Wykeham Arms before returning to Westminster.