Senior Tory Robert Jenrick claims children have been told to avoid migrant hot-spots when travelling home from school. The Shadow Justice Secretary made the comments after visiting protesters outside a migrant hotel in Epping, Essex, on Sunday.

He said one parent shared her daughter's school had written to her "suggesting children avoid certain parts of town on their walk home". He also accused the Government of not listening to the people of Epping which has become the focal point of a series of protests. Demonstrations started last month after an aslyum seeker who was housed at The Bell Hotel in the town was charged with trying to kiss a 14-year-old girl.

Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, denies the allegations and is due to stand trial later this month.

Writing in The Sun, Mr Jenrick said: “I spoke to teens, parents and grandparents — all rightly concerned about the safety of their community.

“These weren’t racists or far-right thugs — they were mums in pink T-shirts with Union Jack bunting.

"One mother told me how her daughter’s school had written to her suggesting children avoid certain parts of town on their walk home.

“Her young daughter told me that men from the hotels loiter outside certain spots ‘where they look at us’.”

He claimed "everyone" he spoke to Epping was frustrated over how they felt the "perfectly legitimate anger over mass, uncontrolled migration had been ignored by the Government".

According to reports, Mr Jenrick found himself in hot water after being pictured close to Eddy Butler, founder of a banned neo-Nazi group.

A Labour spokesman called the Conservative "a disgrace".

"Standing alongside someone with a long history of involvement with neo-Nazi terror groups, at a protest organised by a far-right party, shows just how far he and the Tories have sunk,” the spokesman said.

When asked about Eddy Butler, a source close to Mr Jenrick told The Sun: “No idea who this guy is and Rob didn’t speak to him. Rob just spoke with peaceful protesters."