As a British citizen who has lived very happily in Malta for the past 16 years, I have to say I am deeply saddened by the instances of overt racial hatred that have sprung up, in England, in particular, since the referendum on the EU.

Brexit has been voted for democratically although this was not my personal choice. Brexit will and should now happen if we are to believe in democracy. Sadly, what we are seeing are the worst excesses of prejudice fuelled by some of the Ukip Leave campaign.

I would like to refresh the history of our great country for those who feel racial prejudice is the way forward.

My parents and I am sure many other parents and grandparents gave up their youth and, in many cases their lives, to fight against the hatred and prejudice of the Nazis in 1939. In those days, the UK stood for a free and unprejudiced world.

There was no room for the petty hatred we are seeing now from a small section of our society. I am totally against any form of hatred and prejudice as this was how I was brought up by my parents.

It seems that the Polish population is particularly being singled out by these bigots. In 1939, many Polish people came to England to fight tyranny alongside our troops. There were many Polish squadrons that flew with the RAF to win the Battle of Britain.

So if you think Brexit is about prejudice and hatred of foreigners, look to your history and not to your hatred!