A Conservative Party candidate has been heckled by an outraged crowd at an event for implying disabled people should be paid less because 'some disabled people don't understand money'.

Sally Ann-Heart, who is standing for Hastings and Rye, was slammed with boos and cries of disgust after she defended advice for disabled people to be paid less than the minimum wage.

The Rother District councillor was questioned by an audience member about an article she had previously shared on her Facebook page, where she was asked if she would like to defend herself over the post.

In the midst of her argument, Ms Ann-Heart was interrupted with comments including 'shameful' and shouts of 'they deserve a salary'.

She said: "Some people with learning difficulties don't understand money...it's about the happiness to work".

The hopeful candidate added: "It's about having therapeutic exemption and the article was in support of employing people with learning difficulties, that is what it was" before repeating: "Read the article".

While Ms Ann-Heart attempted to justify the article further, one constituent shouted over her with: "I'm autistic and should get paid for the work I do. How f***ing dare you?"

The confrontation was filmed and has been shared online by a number of attendees at the event, receiving hundreds of retweets by Twitter users.

It is understood that the article referenced was published in The Spectator back in 2017, written by Rosa Monckton, whose daughter has Downs Syndrome.

On Ms Ann-Heart's personal Facebook page, she released a 'statement prepared regarding last night's hustings' where she has since apologised.

She said: "For the avoidance of doubt, I was trying to emphasise that more needs to be done to help those with learning disabilities into the workplace and having properly paid work. I did not say anyone should be paid less.

"My comments have been taken out of context, but I do apologise if any offence or alarm has been caused. The number of disabled people in work has hit a record high under this government, and I am committed to doing more to supporting those with learning disabilities into good, secure jobs."