Hundreds of protesters demand end to migrant crisis at two small boat 'drop-off' points on south coast

Hundreds of anti-migration protesters took to the streets across Southampton and Dover on Saturday in the face of police warnings and crackdowns on face coverings.

South Coast Patriots gathered in Southampton - where they were met by a counter-protest organised by activists from Southampton Stand Up To Racism.

In Dover, a similar protest unfolded, with police vehicles out in force around the streets near Dover Priory Station, where Britons came together to make their voices heard.

It comes as tensions reach boiling point over the crisis in the Channel - with 1,655 illegal migrants having arrived in the UK in the week between September 21-27, and some 781 reaching Britain's shores in a single day.

Both Dover and Southampton are drop-off points for illegal migrants.

The dinghies - which can sometimes carry hundreds of so-called "asylum seekers" - are unloaded by the RNLI or Border Force before being shipped off into taxpayer-funded accommodation.

The fresh wave of demonstrations follow a movement which began last month, led by Danny Tommo's Patriot Platform, which saw protest action in Dover, Portsmouth and Gosport across September.

Danny Tommo has since appeared in court charged with entering a restricted zone at a migrant processing centre in Dover, and was remanded in custody last week ahead of his trial next year over accusations of criminal damage against a boat in the Channel.

The protests aim to raise awareness over Labour's failure to stop the boats.

But Patriot Platform appeared not to have been involved on Saturday - with South Coast Patriots promoting their rally under English Defence League branding instead.

Kent Patriots, which is listed as an affiliate of Patriot Platform, said on Instagram that its members would not be taking part.

In Southampton, protesters set off from the port carrying English and Union flags.

Chants heard during the march included: “Stop the boats”, “England till I die”, and “Deport the f****** lot”.

But one woman stopped to hurl abuse at the marchers, shouting “scum” before she was confronted by one of the attendees.

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The march later halted outside Southampton Crown Court, where a woman addressing the crowd through a megaphone said: “You are supposed to protect us, not these illegal men coming into our country.”

Around 50 people from Stand Up To Racism had assembled at the Bargate as part of a counter-demonstration.

The two groups passed one another without incident, before the anti-migration protesters continued along the High Street.

Hampshire Police brought in additional powers and restrictions in preparation for the demonstrations.

Superintendent Alex Charge, the district commander for Southampton, said in a statement that officers had introduced a dispersal order covering a designated area between 7pm on Friday and 7am on Sunday.

Under the restrictions, anyone participating in the protest was barred from wearing a face covering intended to conceal their identity between 11am and 5pm on Saturday - with religious and medical exemptions.

In Dover, Kent Police said it had also made “robust” preparations intended to minimise disruption during today's demonstration.

The force said a “substantial” contingent of specially trained officers were deployed across the town centre.