PEOPLE in Worcester are being encouraged to stamp out racism and xenophobia by backing a major campaign based around a safety pin.

This trio of city councillors, who represent St John's, say they've been alarmed at the reports of race hate since Britain backed Brexit.

Now they want Worcester to play its part in the national 'Safety Pin campaign', started by one woman in London which has gone viral on social media.

Launched on Twitter, more than 30,000 people have backed the campaign so far and pledged their support by wearing a pin on their clothes.

The pin needs to be visible, and lets passers-by know that they can feel safe and welcome.

Councillor Chris Cawthorne, who helped launched the Worcester version at the poppy sculpture at Cripplegate Park, a deliberately-chosen site, said it was about city people being "part of the solution".

"If people wear the pin and support this campaign, they're saying they are prepared to be part of the solution," she said.

"It could be by confronting racist behaviour, or if that is not possible at least documenting it.

"But more generally it's about reaching out to people and letting them know they are safe and welcome."

Fellow Labour politician Councillor Matt Lamb, a former parliamentary candidate in the Wyre Forest, added: "People who feel fear from hate crime, racism or any kind of prejudice can identify people wearing a safety pin as a friend.

"We want to offer a hand of friendship to people who fear the hate that we have seen in recent days."

Around the country reports of race hate have risen since the EU referendum, sparking the campaign.

Councillor Richard Udall, a city and county councillor, said: "Whatever individual difference of opinion might have been over the referendum, it does not excuse or condone any form of hate crime.

"We want to offer assurances to anybody who needs us that we are willing and able to help.

"The poppy commemorates those who fell in battle fighting racism, intolerance and prejudice.

"It is a symbol of remembrance and peace, many gave their lives to protect our freedoms and their sacrifices deserve our respect today."

Traders in Worcester are also being asked to display a picture of a safety pin in their shop windows.

The Safety Pin campaign has been launched by an American living in the capital, who does not want her surname revealed by safety reasons and goes by the name of Allison on Twitter.

Yesterday celebrity Katie Hopkins infuriated peace activists by saying it has been "dreamt up" by sore losers from the Remain campaign.

"I think it's entirely conjecture dreamt up by sore losers from the Remain campaign in order to try and make it sound like 'race haters' are people that voted Leave," she said.