An international cricket team became the mistaken focus of an anti-migrant protest after being spotted entering a hotel in Portsmouth.

Reform county councillor George Madgwick said about 30 to 40 people gathered outside the Marriott Hotel in Cosham on Tuesday evening, amid false rumours that a group of migrants had arrived by bus.

In a now-deleted Facebook post, he urged people not to attend, saying hotel staff showed him "proof" the guests were the touring Pakistan under-19 national cricket team.

Hampshire Constabulary confirmed officers responded to reports of a gathering outside the hotel shortly before 18:30 BST.

A police spokesperson said officers spoke to the people "who were expressing concerns about a coach that had been seen in the area".

"The officers explained that their concerns were not correct," they said, adding: "No offences were identified."

The crowd of about 30 people left shortly before 21:00, the spokesperson said.

In his Facebook post, which was removed on Wednesday morning, Madgwick said: "I visited the manager and the hotel explained it was the Pakistani cricket team staying.

"The cricket team coach came to speak to me personally and I saw proof (hotel were happy to provide)."

Speaking to the BBC, he said: "Someone online saw a group of what looked like foreign nationals leaving the coach and put a photo of it online and that's where it spurred from.

"It was mere speculation rather than based on truth or fact.

"In this case they have made a grave error, a grave mistake."

He said: "I think one person made the assumption and everybody else followed that assumption.

"It isn't a good reflection on our city.

"It's not something I want our city to be known for."

The incident happened two days after hundreds of protesters blocked roads in the city after a boat carrying about 120 migrants was brought ashore.

Amanda Martin, Labour MP for Portsmouth North, called the hotel incident "deeply concerning".

She said: "It's completely unacceptable that misinformation has led to young cricketers visiting our city being wrongly targeted and mistaken for people seeking asylum.

"It's also wrong that people who work in the hotels had to deal with this.

"Those who arrived in Portsmouth on Sunday were transported outside of Hampshire for processing.

"There is a legitimate debate to be had about immigration, but it must be based on facts not misinformation or rumour."

The BBC understands the England and Wales Cricket Board has checked on wellbeing of the Pakistani under-19s team, and is reviewing security arrangements for the remainder of their tour.

The Marriott Hotel Portsmouth has declined to comment.