A HUGE religious festival in Southampton has been cancelled due to escalating racial tensions after the EU Referendum.

Thousands of Muslims were due to gather in the city’s East Park to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Up to 2,000 people were expected to attend what would have been Southampton’s first outdoor prayer for Eid.

But the British Bangladeshi Cultural Academy, which organised the event, have cancelled it after two rival demonstrations were planned in the city in the wake of the Brexit vote.

As reported in the Daily Echo, two demonstrations are set to take place this weekend, one by members of a far-right group, and the other from anti-racist and pro-refugee groups.

Members of the far-right group South Coast Resistance and the Pie and Mash Squad say they will hold a demonstration outside the Bargate at noon on Saturday.

They have said on social media to “join us to celebrate Brexit and an end to mass immigration”.

They have also put up posts saying “no more refugees”.

A number of groups such as Refugees Welcome and Southampton AntiFa will hold a counter-demonstration, starting at 11am at the monument.

Shere Sattar, chairman of the British Bangladesh Cultural Academy, said the “the political situation and unrest in UK after leaving the EU” combined with the rise of racist activity around the country had led organisers to cancel the event.

Mr Sattar added that although the gathering for Eid prayer has been cancelled, which had been due to take place on July 4 and 5, they hope to hold other events in Southampton later this year.

He said: “We are positive that by September we are hoping all those activities would be at rest, so that we can continue with our normal lives and community activities without any interruptions.

He said: “We urge everyone to be at their best in this un-restful time in the country we all should contribute everything we can to keep our city and the community safe.”

Police have said they are aware of the demonstrations and are planning carefully to ensure those taking part can do so without the need for police intervention and to make sure the event is peaceful.

Southampton’s communities chief, Satvir Kaur, said she had received reports of racist abuse aimed at Polish and Asian residents after the referendum vote.

But police have say they have recorded less reports of hate crime in the week after the referendum than those before.