Israel's deputy ambassador to Britain was forced to seek refuge in a security office after protesters attempted to attack her following a university lecture.

Talya Lador-Fresher said she feared she would be physically assaulted when demonstrators climbed on the bonnet of her car and attempted to smash the windscreen.

She had been speaking to members of Manchester University's politics society when the incident occurred on Wednesday evening. Around 40 demonstrators had gathered at the venue.

Ms Lador-Fresher had been asked back to the university after a previous arrangement to address students in February was cancelled when more than 300 protesters from the Action Palestine student society scuffled with Jewish students and police.

Speaking about Wednesday's protest she said: "It was quite a shocking experience. I have had people stand up and shout and wave the Palestinian flag when I have spoken, but it was the first time I have been in this situation.

"When we finished I could not get out of the university building. The demonstrators saw me on the way to the car and they started running towards me.

"The security team rushed me back into the building and we were standing in the corridor for a few minutes."

The diminutive deputy ambassador was eventually escorted through a back door to a security vehicle but the demonstrators discovered the evacuation plan and surrounded the car.

Ms Lador-Fresher said: "They were screaming and shouting. Two of them were on the bonnet trying to break the windscreen. It was very unpleasant...