Police were forced to step in as protesters surrounded a small group of anti-immigration demonstrators and started chanting “fascist scum”.

Officers formed a line between the two groups as they clashed in Dover this afternoon.

More than 100 people had earlier gathered in the town centre in anticipation of countering a planned demonstration by right-wing groups.

Members of organisations such as Stand Up to Racism and the Socialist Party attended in large numbers in Market Square and marched through the town and along the seafront.

There was a significant police presence, with large vans and up to 20 officers at the scene.

The counter-protest was organised ahead of what was expected to be a large anti-immigration rally.

But only a very small opposing group attended to protest against the number of migrants arriving in the UK.

Any disturbance was kept to a minimum, and police quickly stepped in to separate the demonstrators as cries of “fascist scum” were aimed at one side.

Among the small anti-immigration group was Dean, from Ashford, who did not want to give his surname.

“It’s people like me with families that are worried about illegal immigrants, and it’s nothing to do with race or religion, it’s about the protection and safety of our children,” he said.

“I’ve come here today because I want to see the reaction of the so-called far-left that are calling me a fascist and a racist, and as you hear we’re being absolutely surrounded by them. We’re being bullied, recorded and called Nazi weirdos, and I’m far from that.

“They want to start, they want to cause trouble, and yet the government are supporting their narratives compared to just an upstanding British citizen that wants to support their family and Britishness.”

Several people in attendance were flying the Palestinian flag, and holding signs saying “refugees welcome”.

They were heard chanting: “Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here.”

Others were heard singing more controversial slogans such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”.

Kay Marsh is the media and advocacy manager for migrant support charity Samphire and helped organise the counter-protest.

“The level of hate we’ve been seeing across the country is like nothing we’ve seen for such a long time, and it’s really inspired people and encouraged people to come out,” she said.

“It’s not enough to just not be racist in these times, you have to be actively anti-racist and oppose this horrible behaviour

“If today’s turnout is anything to go by, we know that only a fraction of people who feel this way really come out to these things, so if this is a fraction of the support we’ve got in Dover, that’s amazing.”

Eric Segal, the secretary of the South East Kent Trade Unions Council, was also in attendance.

He told KentOnline: “I’m here to express solidarity with people that are angry at the riots that the far-right have caused up and down the country.

“We understand that there was going to be a presence here.

“I believe trade unionists should be at the forefront of any opposition to the right-wing.”

Speaking about the protest, new Dover MP Mike Tapp said: “I’m happy to see that there were no major issues today. Thank you to the police for their work and diligence.

“It’s a shame some small businesses closed for the day, they face enough challenges. I will continue to focus on fixing the difficult situation that we have inherited.

“If there were chants of ‘from the river to the sea’ then I strongly condemn this. It is deliberately provocative, potentially anti-semitic and not in the spirit of peaceful protest. Turning up to counter far-right politics with that approach is not helpful.”

Kent Police said: “Officers were present in Waterloo Crescent during a protest. They engaged with those present, and no disorder was reported.

“There was also a police presence in Market Square as part of this event.”