COMMUNITY figureheads have called for residents to stand together following reports of hate crime in Essex more than doubling after the EU referendum.

Council leader Roy Whitehead joined forces with leader of the Lib Dems, councillor Stephen Robinson, to urge residents to speak out against racially motivated crime.

It comes after police reported 22 alleged offences in the week following the Brexit vote, compared with nine the week before the vote.

Leader of Chelmsford City Council, councillor Roy Whitehead, said “I am deeply concerned by the recent national reports of xenophobic abuse.

“We are committed to supporting equality and diversity within the city and take our duty to promote good relations between different groups of the community very seriously.

“Chelmsford is a diverse city where people from many different backgrounds live and work side by side.

“That hasn’t changed since the referendum, but if people do have any concerns they should let the police know.”

The number of allegations, which is in line with a national trend linked to tensions around the referendum vote, sparked the leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition, councillor Stephen Robinson, to welcome immigrants to the city.

In an interview with the Weekly News, he said: “We need to stand together in a time like this.

“I want to send a message to immigrants that they are welcome here in Chelmsford.

“People from Europe and indeed all parts of the world have helped shape Chelmsford over the decades, especially during and since the Second World War.

“They make it a thriving city.

“All of us, but especially elected representatives, should be ready to speak out against discrimination between social groups whenever we see it.”