PROTESTS are planned to take place across the North-East against the forthcoming visit of American President Donald Trump this week.

Anti-Trump marches are set to go ahead from tomorrow in Durham and Newcastle to coincide with the US leader’s two-day state visit.

Campaigners under the title of Together Against Trump are calling for action at a march in Newcastle tomorrow and at the unveiling of a 40ft ‘Trump not welcome’ banner at Redhills, in Durham, on Friday, while protestors will be in attendance at Durham Gala on Saturday.

Durham County Councillor John Clare will stand shoulder to shoulder with crowds at the rally in Newcastle.

Cllr Clare told The Northern Echo he was glad the President was visiting Britain as it gave him a chance to disagree with what he labelled as Trump’s Islamophobia, homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, nationalism, trade wars, “lunatic foreign policy” and stance on the environment.

He said: “I believe that we need as a nation to ‘do business’ with other nations, and accept that this may from time to time involve our national leaders holding their noses and talking to them. “But that does not mean that I, as a private citizen, need to sit back and say that I, too, must welcome him

“It is not necessarily that I find Trump a vile human being - it is what he stands for that I oppose to the depths of my being.”

While he said he felt it “something of a duty” to join protestors in London, the Newton Aycliffe councillor hopes his part in the North-East event will help demonstrate the “breadth of hostility” towards Trump.

An event will also be held on Friday in Middlesbrough Town Hall, which will be flying the LGBT flag.

A group of asylum-seekers and other newcomers who have put down roots in the town have been invited for tea.

Councillor Mick Thompson, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Culture and Communities, said: “Just like America, Middlesbrough was created through immigration from the very start.

“Donald Trump’s political ideas preach hate and encourage division.

“We have very different values, and like many who will be protesting on Friday, we wanted to make clear that Trump and his politics are not welcome here.”

Donald Trump is expected to arrive in the UK late on Thursday following a NATO summit in Brussels.

It is understood he will meet Prime Minister Theresa May at Chequers before meeting the Queen at Windsor Castle on Friday.