Demo and counter-demo protest near migrant hotel

Anti-migration protesters carried signs reading "stop the boats".

Groups of anti-immigration protestors and counter-protestors have gathered outside a hotel housing asylum seekers.

About 120 people on both sides had assembled by 14:00 BST outside the Ibis in Barnwood, Gloucester on Saturday.

Anti-immigration protestors carried Union flags and England flags, while the counter-protesters held signs with messages including "love thy neighbour", and "refugees are welcome here".

Gloucestershire Police said there would be an increased policing presence in the Barnwood area on Saturday.

Speaking to BBC Gloucestershire, Chloe Turner, leader of Stroud District Council, said: "Refugees, asylum seekers are not the problem. We understand that many people feel that this country is not in the place it should be at the moment.

"But refugees didn't cause the cost of living crisis, refugees didn't put all the sewage into our rivers, they didn't bring the NHS to its knees."

She said she understood people's concerns about migrants being housed in their communities, but added: "I hope we can all rise above that and show compassion and understand that these people are fleeing really terrible things."

"We understand that no one becomes a refugee lightly."

Counter-protesters outside the Ibis hotel in Gloucester

Christopher Faulkner, who joined the anti-immigration protest, said he was concerned about "unvetted" migrants being allowed in.

"We are paying the French millions to stop them and they're still not doing anything. In four years I don't think there will be an England left."

When asked what the government should do with migrants instead of placing them in hotels, he replied: "I don't think they should be here in the first place."

"Why are they giving them all these perks? It's really winding the country up."

Councillor Chloe Turner said people need to "show compassion" to refugees

Mr Faulkner added: "And it's the tax payer who's paying for it."

A number of Gloucestershire Police officers were deployed throughout the day and the protest concluded peacefully with no arrests.

Assistant Chief Constable Arman Mathieson said: "I am pleased to say that both protest groups worked with us before and during the protest and, as a direct result, we did not need to enforce protest legislation or make any arrests."