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Concerned Europeans living in London have launched an anti-Brexit “Hug a Brit” campaign in a new tactic to persuade the UK to stay in the EU.

The grassroots campaign has begun collecting and publishing photos of Europeans hugging their British friends to try to sway wavering voters ahead of the EU referendum.

Since the “Please Don’t Go UK” campaign was launched, hundreds of images have been shared on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #HugABrit.

Singer and Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker has come out in support of the movement and was pictured embracing a German fan named Christine.

One literary Frenchwoman even shared a photo of herself hugging the bust of British author Virginia Woolf in East Sussex.

Katrin Lock, a German who has lived in London for seven years and supports the campaign, said the idea was simply to show British people some love and post the evidence online.

She told The Local: “It’s a little bit hippy, but a little bit of hippiness is needed. People are always arguing about cucumbers and shower caps.

“We wanted to do something positive instead of just talking about rules and regulations. It’s a love-bomb for the UK.”

The campaign group have received contributions from French people, Italians, Germans and Spaniards – both living in the UK and abroad – hugging their British friends.

The organisation said on its website: ““Our message comes from our hearts. Stay with us, and help us make Europe – and the EU – a better place.

"If you feel like us, please join our movement #hugabrit and tell the British people: please don’t go, UK!”