THE leaders of all three political parties on Worcester City Council have come together to condemn the recent hate crimes.

Councillor Adrian Gregson, the city's Labour leader, has teamed up with his Conservative and Green counterparts to hit out at the abuse.

As the Worcester News has revealed in recent days, several incidents of racist rhetoric have been reported on EU nationals in the city since the referendum.

It includes two Polish people who were sworn at in the city's Cap 'N' Gown pub in Upper Tything, a family of Poles being targeted by youths in Astwood Road and told to "go home", and some abuse aimed at a Portuguese cafe owner.

In the Astwood Road incident nine teenagers were spotted hurling abuse at a house, throwing stones at the property and telling the occupiers to leave, but the residents did not complain to the police.

It follows reports of an increase in hate crimes nationwide since the vote for Brexit last month.

Councillor Gregson has joined up with Conservative group leader Marc Bayliss and Green Party counterpart Louis Stephen to issue a statement.

It said: "We are proud to live in a diverse and tolerant city.

"The result of the EU referendum does not give any justification for racist abuse or attacks.

"Racism, xenophobia and hate crimes have no place in our city or in the UK as a whole.

"All parties on Worcester City Council are united in condemning racism, xenophobia and hate crimes unequivocally - we will not allow hate to become acceptable.

"We want to assure all people living in our city that, regardless of your ethnic origin, you are all valued members of our community.

"Worcester City Council will continue to work with West Mercia Police and the South Worcestershire Community Safety Partnership to ensure Worcester remains a diverse and tolerant city, where all our residents can live together in safety."

The proactive move follows a similar stance at Worcestershire County Council, which backed a motion last week condemning the spark in hate crimes across the country.