UKIP leader Nigel Farage will visit a Hampshire town today, just two days before the local and European elections.

The visit to Eastleigh comes soon after the south east MEP made controversial remarks in a radio programme that he thought people would be concerned if a group of Romanians moved in next door.

And one leading Romanian businessman, based in Hampshire, has responded by saying he could “teach Mr Farage a few things” about being a good neighbour.

Mr Farage’s visit comes as UKIP continue to target Eastleigh, where the party enjoyed some success in two elections last year.

After coming second to the Liberal Democrats in the parliamentary by-election held after the resignation of disgraced MP Chris Huhne, the party then won two county council seats last May.

The party has been experiencing a surge in interest ahead of Thurs-day’s elections – as shown in a poll conducted by the Daily Echo last week.

But Mr Farage also caused outrage in a radio interview when he was asked what the difference was between having a group of Romanians and German children as neighbours.

He replied “You know what the difference is”, before adding “I was asked if a group of Romanian men moved in next to you, would you be concerned?

“And if you lived in London, I think you would be.”

‘Wrong’ Since the interview he has since said that the “vast majority of Romanians who have come to the UK wish to better their lives and would make good neighbours”, but added that he was still concerned that being in the EU meant criminal gangs from Romania could move to the country.

But Mr Farage’s comments were criticised by Romanian businessman Calin Huma, who lives in Otterbourne and has been a resident in the UK for almost 20 years.

Mr Huma, who is founder of the British Romanian International Development Gateway Exchange (BRIDGE), which is aiming to improve business links between Hampshire and Romania, said: “My problem is that describing an entire people by the actions that might have been done by certain Romanians is wrong.

“As a Romanian I have never had a problem here, and I feel that I am an exemplary citizen who has integrated well and who is good friends with his neighbours.

“I think Mr Farage would find that Romanians integrate very well in their communities in the UK.

“If he moved in next to me I could teach him a few things, as although we have free speech in the UK, society doesn’t regulate whether or not you are educated in the matters that you talk about.”