RESIDENTS have been praised for “showing the very best of Southend” as they stood together in an empowered display of unity.

Despite fears of violent riots, as seen elsewhere in the country following the murder of three girls in Southport, hundreds of residents formed a counter-protest in Hamlet Court Road to spread “love not hate”.

Martin Terry, councillor responsible for community safety at Southend Council, said: “I am pleased that people in Southend and across the county came together to reject this hatred. I am not sure we are out of the woods yet as we have had years of a drip feed of this.

“Sainsbury’s closed at 6pm. This is affecting people’s lives and it is having an economic effect. The seafront was quiet.

“I am delighted with the police response and the way it was done. Essex Police are currently the largest in their history and we have hundreds of riot-trained officers prepared for these troublemakers.”

Mr Terry added that he believes the Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s decision to “swiftly get them into court with stiff sentences” is proving a deterrent for further rioting.

Victoria Ward councillor Mandy O’Connor praised the togetherness of counter-protesters but believes further misinformation must be tackled to prevent fear spreading to businesses one again.

She said: “It was a storm in a teacup, the togetherness of those that did turn up proves that. And when it comes to something this important, the community here does stand together.

“From my perspective it was a little disturbing. I was instructed in my day job to lock up and go home by 1pm. It put the fear of god in us and then nothing happened in a negative way, so it is the misinformation.

“There must be a way of stopping it and I am pleased there was no trouble, issues or people hurt.”