British tourists have clashed with Spanish locals near Malaga over calls for donkey taxis to be boycotted.
The British tourist led the protests calling for the animals’ owners to stop putting them to work in the extreme summer heat.
The demonstrations have led to clashes, with one Brit even claiming he was assaulted.
Ian Grace was live-streaming the protest when a donkey owner allegedly punched him multiple times.
The 52-year-old gave a speech at the protest, saying: “I was flying back to the UK on Monday when I was assaulted by one of the donkey owners for filming illegal activity in contravention of the regulations.
“The donkeys should not have been going out in that searing heat. Thank you all so much for turning up.”
The protests were held in Mijas, a small village halfway between Malaga and Marbella.
Mr Grace, from Shrewsbury, slammed the donkey owners as they were pouring water over the animals.
He said: “I’m pretty sure all this is for show… they’re sitting there with no morals, no compassion, no ethics whatsoever and sitting on their lazy arses.”
Another protestor said: “I don’t understand why the donkeys are there, they are animals, they are sentient beings, there is absolutely no excuse for abusing the donkeys and keeping them out in the heat.”
While this protest was being held, a counter-protest was shouting over them.
Many of the protestors calling for the donkey taxi boycott were local Spaniards. They wore a rope around their neck to express solidarity with the animals.
Some protestors held signs saying “boycott the donkeys” and “end the cruelty.”
Mr Grace also led chants of “all we are saying is give donkeys a chance.”