CONCERNED church leaders in Sandwell have joined together to launch the Love Your Neighbour campaign due to the rise in racial tensions after the EU referendum vote.

Faith and community leaders gathered outside the Council House in Oldbury with councillors to pledge to work together to ensure immigrants and ethnic minorities are not abused.

Director of Sandwell Churches’ Link, Laura Nott was approached by local church leaders who wanted to respond to tensions in their community by drawing people together to celebrate community spirit.

She said "The Love Your Neighbour campaign is a great opportunity to show how the people of Sandwell come together in times of such massive political change.

"Sandwell has many residents affected by poverty, and needs action to improve day to day life in our communities, supported at local and national levels."

She added: "However, residents and local organisations can also work together to make practical changes for the better and Sandwell Churches Link hopes that by coming together, local people can make it a great place to live, work and belong."

Mayor of Sandwell Councillor Julie Webb backed the campaign after several councillors reported a rise in complaints about hate crimes.

She said: “I would like to thank Sandwell Churches’ Link network for organising the signing of this letter to Sandwell communities. This expresses our desire to ensure everyone in Sandwell is committed to maintaining the community links we have worked so tirelessly to build, and that they are not dented by a minority of people.

“We are all aware communities cannot exist and thrive without harmonious relationships being developed regardless of race, religion, culture and sexuality."

She added: “We in Sandwell will do everything possible to ensure our work in this field continues unabated.”

Several West Midland MPs, the Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson and West Midlands Police chiefs met on Friday to discuss concerns around hate crime.

The meeting was co-ordinated by Perry Barr MP Khalid Mahmood, who said: "This rise in tensions is more than anecdotal and we want people in Birmingham, Sandwell, Halesowen and across the Black Country to contact the police if they have been victims of hate crimes and not just to post about it on social media.

"It was important and reassuring that the police, PCC and MPs have come together and set up a strong structure to tackle issues that have arisen."

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson added: “We are all extremely proud that the West Midlands is a diverse region, where people from different backgrounds and cultures get on. That will not be allowed to change.

“Hate crime is not acceptable and tackling the crime is a priority of mine and West Midlands Police have a zero-tolerance policy on it.