Non-British Europeans will be able to stay at a Dorset bed and breakfast for free in a bid by the owner to tackle xenophobia following Brexit.

Malcolm Heygate-Browne, who owns the Bakehouse in Sherborne, is offering free accommodation to European passport holders on Sundays in July and August.

According to Mr Heygate-Browne the offer was to thank them for their contribution to the UK.

He said his business had been involved with European town twinning organisations and employed people from the Ukraine and Poland.

Sherborne is also twinned with Granville in Normandy, France, and San Gimignano in Tuscany, Italy.

Mr Heygate-Browne explained that the eight-roomed bed and breakfast was quiet on Sundays and he wanted to send a message of appreciation to those Europeans for all they do for the UK.

According to the Dorset Race Equality Council there has been a number of incidents reported to the council since UK residents voted to leave the European Union.

This includes one incident which was reported in the Echo today about a Polish youngster being racially abused at a Bournemouth park.