Community leaders have described their experiences of receiving death threats, having bricks thrown at their windows and having cars damaged as they publicly condemned a recent rise in hate crime in West Cumbria.

Allerdale councillors have backed a motion to publicly oppose racism, xenophobia and hate crime.

It follows an increase in reported incidents since the EU referendum.

The motion was brought by Councillor Marion Fitzgerald at the request of residents in her ward.

Referring to the death of MP Jo Cox and last week’s lorry attack in France as examples, Coun Fitzgerald said: “As a society we seem to have ended up in a period of chaos and confusion since just before the referendum.

“This is about treating people who have made their homes here or who are visiting us with dignity and fairness.

“I feel very privileged to be representing people who take the initiative.”

The meeting heard she was not the only councillor to propose making a public stand.

The motion said: “Allerdale Borough Council condemns racism, xenophobia and hate crimes unequivocally.

“We will not allow hate to become acceptable.

“We are proud to live in a diverse and welcoming society.

“Racism, xenophobia and hate crimes have no place in our country.”

Sympathising with victims of hate crime, Coun Peter Bales drew parallels with attacks he had faced as a councillor.

He described his home and car having windows smashed, receiving death threats and having the wheel nuts on his car tampered with.

He added: “It was not nice for me to go through or for my family.”

Mentioning other attacks against councillors, including in Maryport, Coun Mark Fryer urged people to not just condemn hate crime but to report it if it did happen.

He said: “People must act and never be afraid of the retribution, albeit very difficult to take.”

Coun Konrad Hansen described growing up at a time when his father, an immigrant, was treated no differently in the community than anyone else.

He added: “We are a community not just of people but of peoples.

“We are immigrants among immigrants. Some are just more recent immigrants than others.”

Councillors unanimously backed the motion.

In the wake Mrs Cox’s death, the council reissued its personal safety guidance to councillors.