TWO demonstrations are set to take place in the heart of Southampton in the wake of the EU Referendum result.

Members of a far right group and anti-racist and pro-refugee groups will face each other at the Bargate on Saturday.

Police say 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.

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.

One social media post about the event says "join us to celebrate Brexit and an end to mass immigration", while another says "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.

A message posted by organisers of the counter-demonstration urges residents to "join us in protest and bring any banners, flags and noise.

"Tell all of your friends, family, colleagues, customers- EVERYONE OUT to defend diversity."

Ahead of the protest, a spokesman for Hampshire Constabulary said: "When we are informed about any rally or possible protest we plan carefully to police them in the most appropriate way.

"This is to make sure people are able to exercise their right to demonstrate, without the need for police intervention to protect or in some cases, restrict those rights and also to make sure the event is peaceful.

"This is what we have planned for this demonstration.

"We would like to reassure our communities and local residents that we are here to speak to and discuss any concerns they may have."

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

That led to calls for calm and tolerance from both sides of the Brexit debate, but the police have actually recorded less reports of hate crime in the week after the referendum than those before.

For the week June 20 to June 26, with the referendum taking place on June 23, 42 hate crimes were recorded, against 54 the previous week.

Police received two reports on Monday (June 27).

In the previous two weeks there were 50 (May 30 - June 5) and 52 (June 6 - June 12) recorded.