Police are treating a threat to attack a Sussex mosque as a hate crime.

Officers said they went to Hastings Mosque in Mercatoria, St Leonards, after receiving the report on Sunday, August 4.

Hastings Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) campaign group went to the mosque that afternoon to show support.

On Facebook Hastings SUTR said: "Our friends at Hastings Mosque received a threat of an imminent attack and told us about it.

"After a brief chat we agreed to call on people to come out to defend the mosque and to show solidarity to our Muslim sisters and brothers.

"Within 1.5 hours over 50 people showed up - a brilliant response.

"In the event, an attack did not happen. But we are conscious that racists are organising violent attacks on Muslims, asylum seekers and migrants."

READ MORE: Mosques strengthening security amid ‘palpable fear’ over possible protests

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: "We are investigating a report of a threat to attack a mosque in St Leonards.

"This incident is being treated as a hate crime and an investigation is now underway to identify those responsible.

"We have attended the mosque on Sunday, August 4, and police patrols have been stepped up in the area.

"Anyone who has any information about the incident is asked to report online or ring 101 quoting serial 681 of 04/08."

It comes as the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said hundreds of mosques across the country are strengthening their security and protective measures ahead of planned protests,

There are fears that Islamic places of worship could be targeted during demonstrations expected to take place over the weekend following the Southport stabbing attack.

Protests are understood to be planned for areas such as Liverpool, Glasgow, Lancaster, Blackburn, Newcastle, Birmingham, Sunderland, Dover, Middlesbrough, Leeds and Hull, the MCB said.