A regional daily’s political reporter was spat at by protesters while covering the Tory Party’s annual conference yesterday.

Todd Fitzgerald, pictured left, of the Manchester Evening News, was among several journalists to receive the abuse while reporting on the conference, which is taking place in the city.

Around 60,000 people took to the streets of Manchester in an anti-austerity protest to coincide with the conference.

Todd took to Twitter to describe the abuse he received while entering the conference venue.

He posted: “Not great that journalists are being spat on at Tory conference. We’re here to do a job. I’ve been called ‘scum’ three times in 30 mins.”

Todd added: “Don’t get me wrong, I’m not horrified because I got spat at. I’m horrified that anyone has been spat at. Sullied the great atmosphere today.”

The majority of the demonstration passed off peacefully, with four arrests made by Greater Manchester Police.

Other journalists to be spat at included Huffington Post reporter Owen Bennett, formerly of the Colchester Gazette and the Herts & Essex Observer, and Channel 4 political correspondent Michael Crick.

Todd joked after the incident: “I’m coming back to the Tory conference tomorrow with scruffy clothes over my posh clothes. Incognito.”