EDL march cancelled after just six people turn up

An English Defence League (EDL) march was called off after half an hour when hardly any supporters of the far-right group showed up.

The EDL Essex Division planned to march in Chelmsford on Saturday, but the event was called off when only two to six people turned up.

Essex Police dispatched additional officers and riot vans after receiving “intelligence” about a possible march.

However, the EDL group was vastly outnumbered by around 30 counter-protesters, including supporters of Unite Against Fascism (UAF) and Chelmsford Throws Out Fascism.

“The EDL stand for fascism, they stand for racism, but in Chelmsford they are not welcome,” a UAF spokesperson told the BBC.

“People have turned out to oppose them.

“They want to turn neighbour against neighbour, community against community.”

Police in Essex said in a statement: “People have the legal right to protest.

“However, we put appropriate plans in place with our partners Chelmsford City Council to ensure public safety and that there were no breaches of the peace of unlawful behaviour.”

Earlier this year, a mosque threw a 'Best of British' tea party in response to another EDL march.