Two protests have been planned for the same day as residents continue to voice their fury over moves to house 500 asylum seekers on a barge at Portland Port.

It is understood the Bibby Stockholm barge could arrive this week.

Delays in the refurbishment of the vessel have meant its arrival is behind schedule, having been originally set to arrive at Portland last month.

At the weekend the barge remained at Falmouth where it is undergoing general maintenance and refurbishment ahead of its move to Dorset.

Two separate protests have been organised for Saturday July 8, by Stand Up to Racism Dorset and by the NO TO THE BARGE group; both groups are opposed to the plans.

Stand Up To Racism is holding a family-friendly 'Unity Demonstration', assembling at 11am outside the port gates at Castletown, and marching to Portland Hospital.

The demonstration will hear speakers from local churches, trade unions and community groups.

Lynne Hubbard, Co-Chair of Stand Up To Racism Dorset says: “Bibby Stockholm is little more than a prison vessel. It’s not equipped to accommodate the 500 refugees who’ll be crammed into its cabins. And we know it will have only basic health services on board.

“Everyone on Portland, including refugees, needs adequate health care. We want full support for Portland Community Hospital, which has been run down for years.

"People in Portland and Weymouth already face rotten wages, high costs and poor services. The hospital is close to the port – why not restore its emergency services so that our communities and all others who come to Portland have proper health care?"

She said the event "aimed to counter division and hatred being stirred up by some in the area", adding: "Encouraged by hostile statements from government, some people are trying to lead local opposition to the barge towards hostility towards all refugees."

Meanwhile, members of the NO TO THE BARGE Facebook group are planning their own protest from noon on the same day.

Billed as 'March to Portland Port', protestors will meet at Victoria Roundabout and march towards the port to voice their anger at the plans.

A spokesperson for the group said: "We as a community were only informed this April of a secretive agreement between the privately-owned port and the Home Office.

"Our local councils, MPs, councillors, and us, the residents, were never consulted to house 500 plus young male asylum seekers.

"We believe the Government has not adequately considered the harmful effects on all the services of our treasured seaside communities."

The group recently wrote a letter to local MPs stating their concerns about the barge which included a lack of suitable infrastructure and limited services in the area, the impacts and effects on the community, a lack of any meaningful dialogue or consultation, and lack of funds for volunteering, and cultural and religious amenities for the men on the barge.