Church leaders have severely criticised a demonstration organised by right-wing group Britain First over the building of a mosque.
A letter written on behalf of 13 clergy in Burton on Trent, where the march is due to take place, said that they were "disturbed by the intention" of Britain First to protest the proposed building of a mosque in the Staffordshire town. More than 1,600 people have said they are attending the protest on a Facebook page promoting the event.
"We support, under the law, freedom of worship and religious assembly. We support, under the law, the building for that purpose. We also support the right to legal civil protest," the clergy wrote in a letter to the Burton Mail, signed by Rev Michael Freeman of St John the Divine church.
"What disturbs us is the implication that 'Britishness' and Islam should be seen as incompatible. We hope the people of Burton will not let good community relations be damaged by a confrontation with a considerable level of participation from outside our area.
"We offer good wishes to our brothers and sisters in the Muslim community."
Following the clergy's response, Britain First – an offshoot of the British National Party – posted the following to its Facebook page:
