Pro and anti-immigration groups gather on seafront

Protesters organised by Stand Up to Racism gathered on South Parade

Hundreds of anti-immigration and pro-immigration protesters have staged rival marches in Portsmouth.

Organised by Portsmouth Patriots, about 150 people from across the south coast of England and elsewhere marched along South Parade to Southsea Pier on Saturday afternoon.

A counter protest of about 100 people from Stand Up to Racism Portsmouth also gathered opposite the Royal Beach Hotel, where asylum seekers are being housed.

Both sides were carrying banners and chanting. The protests, which began at 12:30 BST, began to disperse by 14:30 when it started to rain.

Hampshire Constabulary said there were no arrests or incidents.

Anti-immigration protesters waved Union and England flags

Portsmouth Patriots says the group opposes "illegal migrant hotels" in the city.

One protester, Matt, said: "I'm fed up with the way the country's going. We've got homeless veterans sleeping on the streets.

"We don't know who they [the asylum seekers] are. They've got no documentation, they could be anyone."

Mark, from Stand Up to Racism Portsmouth, described people living in the former hotel as "our friends and our neighbours".

He said: "Men, women and children have no choice but to live there - they are placed there by the Home Office - and they just want to get on with their lives and be part of the community and live in safety."

Protests have taken place outside a number of hotels around the UK amid an ongoing legal battle over the use of The Bell Hotel in Epping to house asylum seekers.

Portsmouth City Council has ruled out taking similar legal action, saying the Royal Beach Hotel houses families with children and will be transformed into much-needed private homes in the future.