Influx of support after messages of hope defaced

The messages were written by a group of about 20 adults and children living in and around Dereham Road on Friday

A woman has pledged a community will continue to spread a message of hope after a series of uplifting messages welcoming diversity in a city were scrawled out.

A group of about 20 people, including children, gathered to chalk the words and pictures on hoarding next to a construction site on Dereham Road, Norwich, on Friday.

Later that evening, many messages including "city of refuge", "all welcome" and "kindness is our strength" were defaced. The incident follows recent protests in the city against a hotel housing asylum seekers.

Resident Anna Brown said: "We have people of all ethnicities, of all nationalities... we are a welcoming city... we want to continue to spread that message."

Anna Brown says when the group of residents went back to rewrite the messages after they were defaced, they had an influx of support

The messages of support for asylum seekers in the city were suggested in a community group.

She said: "Unfortunately later that evening a group of individuals came and crossed everything out.

"We decided again on Saturday we weren't going to be put off by it, we were going to continue... there was just an influx of people, about 40 people on Saturday morning and we made it bigger and better."

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Norfolk Police which had been in the area, was called to the scene and took statements.

The BBC has contacted the force for comment.

Messages including "All Welcome" and "Kindness is our strength" were defaced on Friday evening

Ian Docking said he was "really proud" of his community for standing up for fairness, inclusion and love

In recent months, protests have taken place in Diss and Bowthorpe in Norfolk outside hotels used to house asylum seekers.

Dozens of union jack and St George's flags appeared on Dereham Road including directly outside a mosque.

Ian and Rosey Docking have lived in the area for 23 years and said these types of incidents had never previously been a worry or concern.

Mr Docking, 64, said he was really proud of his local community for standing up for fairness, inclusion and love.

"It's a really inclusive community here and not just the community, the support we are getting from our councillors, our local MP, because these so called flaggers marching down here forcing these flags up. If you don't agree with their hard line views, then you're against them.

"Marching down here from lamp-post to lamp-post, it just felt like weaponising the flag against normal people and that's what I disagree with."

A number of flags in the area have since been taken down.

Liam Calvert said a number of residents felt intimidated and unsafe in the area

Liam Calvert, an independent councillor, said the messages represent what the community was about.

"It shows how the community has come together and I have never been more proud.

"It's all about love and acceptance and community for all sorts of people from all sorts of backgrounds.

"Unfortunately, it seems people are using our national symbols to claim territory.

"It's not about flags on houses, or flags on cars, it's about flags in public spaces."

He said some residents had felt intimidated and no longer felt safe following threats and violence.

"People have been asking me what can be done, what can the local council do, what can the county council do and what can they do to improve matters in their community... they have turned out in force to make their community a better place and show people their values."