AN International Vigil was held in Crediton Town Square on Monday, July 4 with the aim of showing support for the international community in the Crediton area.

More than 100 people attended the event to stand for the community’s international heritage and connections.

The Mayor of Crediton, Cllr Frank Letch said: “I want to be mayor of a town that welcomes people from all over the world, a town that is proud of its diversity.”

He carried a placard which read “We are an international family.”

Many of the people who gathered in the Town Square also carried placards showing where they come from, and those present had the opportunity to draw arrows on a large map in the centre to show their own family connections to people over the world.

Representatives came from Crediton Methodist Church, Crediton Congregational Church, Crediton Parish Church, Crediton Arts Centre, CISCO, Sustainable Crediton, the Town Council and a young international group currently working at Beech Hill.

The vigil initiative was based on the foundation of the Welcoming Refugees in Crediton group which has had a positive response in Crediton.

With help from many others, including "Facebook" users, the event came together in a very short time.

Laura Conyngham, who organised the event, said: “The vigil was held to support Crediton’s international citizens, including migrant farm workers, many of whom have felt fearful, following the rise of incidents of hate and abuse since the Referendum - And to show that such behaviour is unacceptable.

"The sense of togetherness in the silence was powerful and moving.

"We then sang ’We are family, Thina Simunye’ from South Africa.

"Afterwards 73 of us lined up along Crediton High Street for further photographs.”A meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 13, at 7.30 pm in the Crediton Fire Station, organised by CISCO (Crediton International Social and Cultural Organisation which will be attended by PC Melanie Smith from Migrant Community Support to answer some questions about the present and future of immigration in the UK. Everyone is welcome to attend.• Police Sergeant Dave MacFadden, the Neighbourhood Team Leader for Crediton and Cullompton, would like to pass out the following message to our local communities in Crediton and Cullompton:“Following the European Union referendum result some communities both nationally and locally may be having feelings of heightened anxiety, particularly after seeing incidents of hostility in other areas of the country, which have been reported in the media.“At this time in the Devon and Cornwall area we have only had a small number of related hate crimes/incidents reported to us as a force. “We have also spoken to our partner agencies in relation to this subject and they have informed us that their clients have reported a small number of unacceptable incidents to them but they have not reported these incidents to the police.“I would like to stress that as yet none of those incidents that have occurred or been reported have taken place in the Crediton or Cullompton areas.”