Crowd gathers outside hotel containing Pakistan under-19 cricket team

An international cricket team became the mistaken focus of an anti-migrant protest after being spotted entering a hotel in Portsmouth.

Reform county councillor George Madgwick said about 30 to 40 people gathered outside the Marriott Hotel in Cosham on Tuesday evening, amid false rumours that a group of migrants had arrived by bus.

In a Facebook post, he urged people not to attend, saying hotel staff showed him “proof” the guests were the touring Pakistan under-19 national cricket team.

Hampshire Constabulary confirmed officers responded to reports of a gathering outside the hotel shortly before 18:30 BST.

A police spokesperson said officers spoke to the people “who were expressing concerns about a coach that had been seen in the area”.

“The officers explained that their concerns were not correct,” they said, adding: “No offences were identified.”

The crowd of about 30 people left shortly before 21:00, the spokesperson said.