Fishermen from around the county will descend on Westminster today to back Brexit.

Thanet’s trawlermen have been leaving from both Broadstairs and Ramsgate throughout the night to join a fleet of other boats.

The flotilla will make its way along the Thames, past Gravesend.

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Bluey Walpole from Hollowshore Fisheries on the Swale estuary is also joining the protest.

Chairman of Thanet Fishermen’s Association John Nichols left from Broadstairs Harbour yesterday morning sporting banners supporting the exit campaign.

He said: "We will arrive at midday and there are boats coming from both England and Scotland.

"It is expected that more than 40 vessels will be in attendance.

"The fishing industry has had a raw deal since the UK entered in to Europe and I would say 99% of the fleet want out.

"We fully accept that we need to work within quota systems and we fully accept rules and regulations.

"But rules and regulations made by the UK government not by people in Brussels.

"There are some big fishing vessels going up the Thames, a boat coming from Scotland is more than 200ft and Tower Bridge will be raised to let them through.

"We have invited South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay on the boat for the protest and hopefully he will bring Boris Johnson."

Bluey Walpole said: "The sad thing about it for the likes of me and others is that I left school at 14-years-old to go into the fishing industry and so much has changed since then.

"My sons work with me but they both have had to get other jobs because we earn so much less money now.

"People from Europe, from France, from Spain and Italy, looking to buy fish used to come to England to buy from us, but now they know they can fish in our English waters and we have lost the fish from our own pond which used to generate jobs for us.

"If we remain in the EU and this system continues, I fear there is no future for small fishermen."

Mr Nichols said there would be at least 10 other boats joining him from Thanet.

And fishermen around the harbour suggested the plan was 'to make a lot of noise' outside of the Houses of Parliament.