BRITAIN DIVIDED: Moment protesters burnt EU flag as migration anger spirals out of control

BRITAIN was tonight perilously divided as simmering anger about mass migration boiled over into ugly violence on the streets of Dover.

This disturbing video shows how far-right protesters and ultra left-wing militia went to war in the historic port town, which has become symbolic of Britain's increasingly fractious and extreme debate over immigration.

Amid shocking and intimidating scenes locals cowered in their homes as black-masked thugs from both sides brawled with police and each other at a number of flash points.

One anti-migrant protester burned an EU flag in the street as he bellowed: "This isn't happening in Asia, this isn't happening in India, it's only happening in white European countries."

A crowd behind him holding British flags then cheered as he threw down the flag in disgust, yelling: "We don't want your EU…we're the people and we have spoken."

Other far-right protesters carrying flags chanted "no more refugees" as they marched through the town to the beat of a drum, whilst one was photographed performing what appeared to be a Nazi salute.  

Elsewhere shocking video footage showed police clashing with anti-fascist protesters, who chanted for Theresa May to open up Britain's borders to refugees.

Today's ugly scenes come just months after Dover was rocked by similar violence. In January another anti-migrant march turned into a mass brawl between far-right demonstrators and left-wing agitators.

The port town has turned into an effective battlefield for extremist demonstrators from all over the country, who descend on its streets to violently press their own views on immigration.

Speaking about today's march Charlie Elphicke, Conservative MP for Dover, said the disruption to local people caused by the demonstrators was "too high a price to pay".

He said: "Here today in Dover, ferries are waiting at the port being disrupted. The port has been disrupted. The haulage industry has been disrupted.

"Our nation's economy has been disrupted, as well as the town of Dover and our local economy."

He added: "It's too high a price to pay and it's not acceptable that people can come here, demonstrate, and cause this level of disruption to people going about their daily lives.

"That's why it's time that, as constituency MP for Dover, I think we need to look again at the law governing these sorts of situations and make it proportional to the rights of people going about their daily business."

Earlier Mr Elphicke, a Tory MP since 2010, voiced his concerns about radical left-wingers adding to the violence, tweeting a picture of protesters with the caption: "Militant hard left occupying port road at Dover. Unwelcome, damaging to our nation's economy and the town. Go away."

He later added that the "fascist" anti-immigation protesters were "equally unwelcome", adding: "Damaging to our nation's economy and the town as the anti fascists."

Kent Police said it had arrested thirteen people for a variety of offences following the disturbance. It is believed that demonstrators from both sides were amongst those detained.

Neil Jerome, temporary assistant chief constable for Kent Police, said the disruption was "unavoidable".

He said: "As I made clear in the run-up to the events today, the right to protest inevitably causes disruption to the community. That is largely unavoidable — we do all we can to minimise that disruption.

"I fully appreciate the frustration caused when a road is closed. This decision is not made lightly and only after consulting with Highways England and Kent County Council.

"It was necessary to allow us to facilitate the protest and ensure the safety of both motorists and protesters."

Last night pro-migrant campaigners projected an image onto the iconic white cliffs of Dover reading #refugeeswelcome in what some have seen as a provocative move ahead of today's march.

The group Global Justice Now, which was behind the stunt, tweeted: "Solidarity with all those going to Dover today to oppose racists and the far right. Stay safe."

The impact of mass migration is expected to play a key role in the upcoming referendum on Britain's membership of the EU, with Brexit campaigners saying severing ties with Brussels is the only way to secure our borders.