Anti-migrant protests continue at Epping hotel

Hundreds of protesters have gathered outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Essex.

About 300 anti-migrant protesters are at the The Bell Hotel, Epping, according to BBC journalist James Bryant.

Some are waving St George’s flags while others have banners and signs with slogans including: “Protect our kids”.

Protests, including some violent clashes, began at the hotel on 13 July after a man living there was arrested and subsequently charged with sexual assault, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity.

Hadush Kebatu, 41, from Ethiopia, has denied the offences and is in custody.

Police say 2,000 pro-immigration counter-protesters have been making their way to the hotel from the town’s station to a pen close to the anti-migrant protest.

Some are chanting “Say it loud, say it clear – refugees are welcome here”, and holding posters, banners and placards with slogans including “Unity is strength” and “Stand up to racism”.

They have been surrounded by police officers who are keeping the two groups apart from each other.

Meanwhile, some of the anti-migrant protesters have been singing along to patriotic music, including Rule, Britannia!.

Several police cars, including riot vans, have started to arrive in the area.

As well as Essex Police, officers from the Metropolitan, Durham, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, West Midlands, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Cheshire, Dyfed-Powys and Hampshire forces are at the scene.

The county force has put a dispersal order in place from 12:00 BST on Sunday to 08:00 on Monday, covering the town centre, transport hubs and networks.

This gives police the power to direct anyone suspected of committing anti-social behaviour, or planning to do so, to leave the area or face arrest.

Ten people have been charged with offences in relation to this month’s disorder in the town, with defendants due to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on 18 August.

On Saturday, about 400 anti-immigration protesters and 150 counter-protesters gathered for a demonstration outside a hotel in the Norwich area.

Police said no arrests were made there.