A UNIVERSITY lecturer who spoke out about xenophobia after Brexit was treated to a farewell drink by pro-EU campaigners.

Daniel Nehring warned that foreign lecturers were considering leaving the University of Worcester, in an article published by the Worcester News.

Some 15 members of Worcestershire for Europe took the lecturer to the Cardinal's Hat, in Friar Street, Worcester, on Saturday, February 18.

Mr Nehring, from Coesfeld, Germany, said: "The lunch was great and I am very pleased that Worcestershire for Europe is gaining such traction."

Tom Thomson, treasurer of Worcestershire for Europe, said: "We invited Daniel to be our guest and paid for him. Now he has left Worcester for South Korea.

"He said his time in Worcester was mainly positive and I hope that us meeting him will have given him a bit more to be happy about.

"We also wanted to atone for the abuse he had received at the hands of others to prove that there are decent people in the UK that welcome all from EU countries."

Mr Thomson commended the sociology lecturer for his 'brave' decision to speak out about xenophobia.

"We are very sad to see the loss of experts like Daniel from our university," he added.

"We are all very concerned about losing our current freedoms to live, work, study, retire across the EU.

"We are also concerned for our children having to face a general degeneration of our friendships across the EU which are vital for our trade, security, scientific and environmental concerns for all citizens."

Worcestershire for Europe is a grassroots group dedicated to keeping Britain in the European Union and is affiliated with Britain For Europe.

The campaign group was founded in October 2016 and has a membership of around 150, with 25 people leafleting in Worcester High Street on Saturday, February 18.

Members claim to have met people who are angry about Brexit during their leafleting in Worcester.

They also said Europeans living in the UK and Britons living in Europe have spoken to them about their concerns for the future.

Anyone interested in joining the group can contact them at Worcestershireforeurope@gmail.com.