Hundreds gathered in the BIC for a pro-Brexit event with speeches from Bournemouth MP Conor Burns and prominent campaigner Nigel Farage.

The Save Brexit Rally, which was part of the Leave Means Leave campaign tour of the United Kingdom, saw calls for the Government to "chuck Chequers".

The event began with Leave Means Leave chairman John Longworth and founder Richard Tice addressing the packed out Solent Hall.

After setting the atmosphere for the evening, DUP MP Sammy Wilson told the rally that a hard border in Ireland was "not possible" and "not practical".

Brexiteer Mr Burns followed with the crowd at fever-pitch.

The Bournemouth West MP described a gathering of anti-Brexit protestors outside the BIC as a "small bedraggled group".

He went on to say that it was imperative to avoid the Chequers deal, which he claimed did not look or sound like Brexit.

In response to the argument people who voted leave did not know what they were voting on, Mr Burns said: "People knew exactly what they were voting for."

The headline speaker at the rally was next on stage in the form of Nigel Farage, who earlier in the day had gone on a walkabout in Christchurch.

Mr Farage did not pull any punches hitting out at Theresa May, Tony Blair, Nick Clegg and senior European Union figures.

The former UKIP leader said the Brexit issue was not about political leaning.

He said: "This is not about left and right. It is about right and wrong."

Reflecting on his time campaigning in Christchurch in 1994, Mr Farage, who is still an MEP, added: "I believed in Britain and I wanted my country back."

The event also featured a talk from Ashford Labour Party councillor and leave campaigner Brendan Chilton.

Wetherspoons founder Tim Martin was unable to attend as scheduled due to a "stomach bug". A video of his address from a previous rally was played to the audience.

Before the rally, a Brexit protest march, organised by Dorset for Europe, descended on the BIC.

Members of the protest spoke of their concerns.

Dave Gillard, 41, a plasterer from Bournemouth: “I run a small business and like many others I rely on consumer confidence. There is very little of that around.

“There are some significant benefits of being in the EU, the co-operation between nations and the freedom of movement to name but two. Brexit will be a disaster.”

Jade Barrett, 31 from Bournemouth: “I am really hopeful that Brexit can be avoided. I am really here to protest against Farage, he’s a horrible man.”

French-born Bournemouth resident of the last 20 years, Genevieve Dalon: “We want to tell Nigel Farage that no deal is not an option, it would be a catastrophe.

“If he is so confident about the will of the people, why not support a second referendum?”

She added: “Brexit is not a done deal. It can be changed. There is a rally in London on Saturday and hundreds of thousands of people will be there to show that.”