Shivani Chaudhari
BBC News, Norfolk
Richard Knights/BBC
Hundreds of people attended the protest against the use of hotels to house asylum seekers
Hundreds of people gathered for a protest outside a hotel housing asylum seekers.
Many arrived at the hotel in the Norwich area with St George’s flags, placards and banners, some reading “Stop the invasion”.
BBC journalist Alex Dunlop estimated there were about 350 to 400 anti-immigration protesters present and roughly 150 counter-protesters at the scene.
He said it was largely peaceful but noisy, with a “strong police presence”.
Alex Dunlop/BBC
About 60 police officers were at the scene of the protest
About 60 police officers attended as protesters, some standing in the road, listened and cheered a number of speeches delivered from the back of a parked lorry.
Anti-immigration demonstrators were heard chanting “We want our country back” and “Stop the invasion”.
Protesters began gathering before the event started at 14:00 BST.
Speeches ended at about 15:30 BST and the crowd began to disperse.
Richard Knights/BBC
Speakers addressed the crowd from a lorry parked at the scene
Richard Knights/BBC
An estimated 350-400 protesters gathered outside the hotel
On Monday, about 150 protesters gathered outside a hotel in Diss, Norfolk, housing asylum-seeking families in protest against Home Office plans to house single adult males there instead.
Two men were arrested on Saturday morning on suspicion of affray in relation to a protest at the Diss hotel and an earlier one at the hotel in the Norwich area.
Rival groups have also clashed outside The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, during several demonstrations since 13 July.
Ten people have been charged with offences in relation to disorder there.
Richard Knights/BBC
Police officers stood in front of the protesters, some of whom spilled into the road
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Since taking office, we have taken immediate action to fix the asylum system and have started closing down hotels and removing more than 35,000 people with no right to be here.
“While the public have a right to protest against the current situation, we will never tolerate unlawful or violent behaviour.
“Working closely with the police, we have thorough and well-tested contingency plans in place to deal with any public disorder, which have been strengthened since last year’s shameful scenes.”
Alex Dunlop/BBC
About 150 counter-protesters attended in support of asylum seekers
Richard Knights/BBC
Protesters began to disperse at about 15:30 BST