PICTURED: Police forced to protect four demonstrators as counter-protesters descend on seaside town

Demonstrations were supposedly planned on Telegram channels after a list of 39 immigration centres were identified as potential targets.

One of the protected men was seemingly slapped in the face during the disorder at around 7pm on Wednesday.

Officers formed a barrier around the protesters as they were surrounded by crowds of people chanting “refugees are welcome here”.

Another counter-protester asked: “Why are you not ejecting them?”

Several men were later escorted by officers through the crowd and into police vans to take them to safety.

Footage from the second incident, which circulated online at around 10pm, showed counter-protesters applauding and cheering.

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Around 2,000 counter-protesters took to the streets of the Sussex seaside town on Wednesday, with further demonstrations across other parts of the country.

There was a significant police prescence but Sussex Police claimed no arrests were made during the “peaceful protest”.

Assistant Chief Constable Paul Court said: "We had a significant police presence and there were no incidents of note and no arrests.

"We would like to thank the community for their support, engagement and providing information to help us keep people safe.

“The message remains the same. Anyone planning to take part in criminal disorder in Sussex will regret their actions.

“Do not do it. Our officers are mobilised and fully prepared, and the ramifications for those involved will stretch far beyond the conclusion of any incidents.”

The footage from Wednesday comes after 483 people were arrested in connection with the unrest and a further 151 people were charged.

Violent disorder spread across England and Northern Ireland after misinformation about the Southport stabbing perpetrator Axel Rudakubana circulated online early last week.

Sir Keir Starmer has looked to clamp down on rioters, with 58-year-old Derek Drummond receiving a three-year sentence after pleading guilty to punching PC Thomas Ball.

The Prime Minister told police chiefs last night to remain on “high alert” after holding yet another emergency Cobra meeting yesterday.

Starmer thanked the police and wider criminal justice system as he convened ministers and police chiefs for a third time since unrest broke out last week.

He also said there was no doubt that levels of policing in the right places and swift justice over the past week have acted as a deterrent to disorder, including with sentencing.

Following a visit to a mosque in Solihull earlier on Thursday, the Prime Minister said: “The most important lesson is for those involving themselves in disorder, because what we’ve seen is that those who’ve been arrested - now numbered in their hundreds, many have been charged, some already in court, and now a number of individuals sentenced to terms of imprisonment, that is a very important message to those involved in disorder.

“And I say it again, anybody involving themselves in disorder, whatever they claim as their motive, will feel the full force of the law."