Additional reporting by KMTV’s Gabriel Morris and Sam Lennon

Hundreds of protesters descended on a Kent town today for anti-immigration demonstrations.

More than 900 people had confirmed their attendance on Facebook for an event titled: ‘Stop the boats now! 10,000+ bikers and friends illegal migrant protest ride to Dover’.

The demo, organised by 'Kent Motor Heads Events', had been in the works for months.

A counter-protest by left-wing organisation Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) was announced more recently.

There was a large police presence throughout the town in order to prevent the two groups from clashing.

In January 2016, mass violence erupted in Dover between far-right activists and anti-fascist opponents, resulting in 64 people being convicted.

There was some angry shouting in the town today - but the events passed without any arrests, police have confirmed.

About 25 counter-protesters mustered in Dover’s Market Square at 12.30pm, far outnumbered by those taking part in the ‘stop the boats’ demo.

Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi, attending the counter-protest as a member of the National Education Union, told KentOnline: “We need to build solidarity in our communities, they’re fleeing here for safety or for a better life.

“My grandparents came here for a better life and to flee anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia, Germany and Ukraine.”

The counter-protesters bore signs saying “refugees are welcome here” and “blame billionaires not migrants and refugees”.

Ivor Riddell, president of Medway Trades Union Council, said: “We’re here to counter-demonstrate.

“Some of them are out and out fascists and open racists – some of them have genuine concerns about immigration but often founded on misinformation or disinformation.

“The real reason why it’s all so bad is that the economy is tanking and that’s not the fault of people coming over on small boats with rags on their backs.”.

Dover has become central in the immigration debate as the location where many asylum seekers arrive on small boats.

Hundreds of bikers gathered at the Townwall street car park near the former site of the district leisure centre.

Another anti-immigration group passed through the town centre and square, meeting with the counter-protesters, where there were some loud exchanges.

Chants of “get them out”, “we want our country back” and “send them home” could be heard as they marched along the streets.

They passed by the small group of counter-protesters in the town square, shouting “leftie scum, off our streets”, and then met up with others at the Townwall Street car park.

About 500 anti-immigration activists and bikers then marched down the seafront, past Waterloo Crescent and back into the Market Square.

The demonstration attracted well-known figures on the radical right, such as Britain First leader Paul Golding, who was met with support from the protesters.

“They’re being drawn to this country by the generosity of our government,” he said.

“The illegal immigration crisis is out of control. They pass through safe country after safe country before they come here.

“They’re primarily working-age, fighting-age men,” he added.

In the square just before 2pm, the small group of counter-protesters were separated from hundreds of anti-immigration demonstrators by a line of police officers.

They shouted at the dwindling crowd of counter-demonstrators, chanting “no one likes a leftie”.

Folkestone-based anti-immigration activist Steve Laws also attended, telling KentOnline: “There’s a good turnout - relatively peaceful, a few people shouting here and there but that’s what you expect.

“The landscape has changed - how people think about immigration has changed drastically over the last few years.

“It’s a sign of the times to come - the counter protesters, the leftists who are supporting open borders and all of that malarkey are in relatively small numbers.”

By just after 2pm, the small counter-demonstration had dispersed, and anti-immigration marchers and bikers moved throughout the town and visited local pubs.

A spokesperson for Kent Police said: "We would like to thank residents in Dover for their patience and understanding during today’s protests, which have now concluded and passed without incident.

"Most of those involved have now left the area, without any reported incidents of disorder or arrests."

Before the rally, Mike Tapp (Lab), Member of Parliament for Dover, had said: “I hope those that have travelled to the area take the opportunity to visit our fantastic cliffs, castle and seafront.

“It’s important that they make use of the many small businesses for refreshments and don’t cause any disruption for local people .”

What our reporter Sam Lennon saw in Dover today

At least only insults were hurled rather than stones or punches.

When the opposing sides in immigration demonstrations confront each other, it can lead to the ugliest form of violence.

To this day, I remember when the two sides met in Dover on January 30, 2016. It escalated into full-scale rioting.

As I followed the pro-migrant group that day, I had to keep looking up to the sky to watch out for the stones being thrown by the then far-right.

Thankfully, this time the missiles were only verbal.

Today, a group of less than 10 counter-protesters remained at Market Square in Dover to face hundreds urging the government to “stop the boats”. One woman held up a placard saying: "Refugees welcome."

She repeatedly called out: "Peace and love, not hate" and "have some compassion".

She also described the asylum seekers regularly arriving in small boats at Dover as "fellow human beings".

In return, a woman in the opposing crowd repeatedly chanted "traitors", and others sang: "Never trust a leftie."

Another woman called out: "We don't want them."

A man unfurled a banner saying: "Enough is enough, stop the boats."

He told the counter-protesters: "This is our country, pay for them yourselves. We're sick of it."

A large group then shouted: "Leftie scum, off our streets."

The anti-immigration protesters then marched through Dover precinct and settled at the Golden Lion pub on the York Street roundabout.

They cheered when some passing motorists sounded their horns in support.

One of the group was Brian Stovelle, who goes by an online name of ‘Brexit Brian’.

He told me: "Nobody objects to genuine asylum seekers but we feel people have abused a soft touch system.

"The English people are suffering because of an out-of-control system."

Counter-protester Keith Sansum - a Dovorian who was a councillor at town, district and county level, from the 1980s to the 2010s - said: "We understand the system is wrong and needs correcting.

“But Mr Farage and his cronies are saying send them home tomorrow. It's not a workable policy.

“You can't have the RNLI pick them up at sea and take them back to Africa."

Because asylum seekers in small boats regularly land at Dover, the town has been the scene of regular demonstrations against them and counter-demonstrations.

Dovorians are ready in these situations and many stay at home or do not try to drive near the town centre or seafront because of potential traffic delays.

In the worst case, when it led to rioting in January 2016, 64 people were convicted and jail sentences adding up to 85 years were imposed.

In the follow-up demonstration, three months later police took no chances.

I saw a thick wall of officers lining either side of the anti-immigration protesters as they marched along Townwall Street, jeered by their opponents.