Anti-immigrant protest planned for Weymouth this Sunday

A protest, thought to be an anti-immigrant demonstration, has been organised for Sunday.

Stand Up To Racism Dorset is set to hold a counter-protest at the same location.

Little is known about the main demo except for a poster promoting the event being circulated locally by some residents on social media which says 'Enough is enough'.

It says a protest will take place on Sunday, August 4 at 5pm at the Jubilee Clock.

A poster for the protest in Weymouth (Image: Facebook)

The planned gathering comes after a week of unrest with violent protests linked to the far-right taking place around the UK following the Southport stabbings.

They followed widespread misinformation on social media about the attack on Monday in Southport, in which Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, were killed.

It is understood more protests are planned for towns and cities.

The PA news agency found evidence of at least 15 protests advertised online for the coming days, some calling for participants to bring England flags and a number containing phrases such as “enough is enough”, “save our kids” or “stop the boats”.

Lynne Hubbard, co-chair of Stand Up To Racism Dorset, said: "We have heard about plans for a protest in Weymouth.

"We don't know who is organising it but it sounds like people who are hostile to immigrants and refugees.

"We are having a unity protest where we will be spreading the message that refugees are part of the community and are welcome here.

"It is not what any of us wanted to be doing, but we have to provide an alternative message.

"Making them feel that they are a valued part of our community is our aim.

"It is an important message that there is nothing to be afraid of, people from other countries don't pose a threat and they enhance our community.

"We would not have a hospital in Dorchester without people from overseas working there."