Street food vendors have become unlikely stars of the anti-government protests in Thailand - arriving at the sites longs before the crowds.

Footage shows the vendors racing to the scene of the rally in Bangkok last night (October 21) and filling the area, to capitalise on the hunger of the demonstrators.

The hawkers have baffled onlookers with the speed that they appear at the rally sites - often before police, media or the protesters themselves.

Food sellers said that they follow the social media announcements from the protesters' accounts and then race to the scene as soon as a new protest venue is announced.

The snacks they sell - fried chicken, fish balls, and sausages - from their carts attached to motorcycles cost between 10 baht (0.32USD) and 20 baht (0.64USD).

''We have to follow the news very closely. We have formed a chat group after protesters gave us the nickname 'CIA','' said 29-year-old

One seller Petch told the news agency Reuters that she and other vendors had created their own group on a messaging app and named it ''CIA Mobile Fishballs for Protests''.

Other vendors have even put stickers on their carts in support of the protests and refused to serve police or soldiers.

''I’m both here to sell and to support the protesters. I hate Prayuth very much,” another added. He complained that his income had fallen under the current military government.
One of the protesters, Max, said he was astonished at the selection of food available at each rally.

He said: ''The food vendors are useful. They support us. It's also good because nobody has to leave the protest site when they're hungry. That makes us stronger.''