Parisians stage anti-migrant protest in anger at government's refugee relocation plan
THE ANTI-IMMIGRANT backlash in France is continuing after a string of violent protests last month with another group of locals protesting over the imminent arrival of around 100 'Jungle' refugees.
Protestors hold a banner reading 'No to the migrants camp' during a protest in Versailles
French conservative mayors have openly denounced the Socialist government's controversial migrant rehousing plan following the destruction of the Calais 'Jungle' camp, and claim state officials - mainly interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve - have forced them to take in hundreds of refugees "against their will".
Jean-François Peumery, the right-wing mayor of Rocquencourt, an upmarket Parisian suburb near Versailles, told the French daily Le Figaro: "The news of the migrants' arrival has thrown locals into panic, the town is in turmoil.
"Some people say they want to help the migrants settle in, but most locals are incredibly worried and vehemently oppose the rehousing plan."
Rocquencourt locals fear the 'marooned' migrants will "never leave" and the temporary reception centre will become a permanent "mini Jungle".
The news of the migrants' arrival has thrown locals into panic, the town is in turmoil
"They think that the migrants will make the town less safe, trigger a rise in crime and disturb the peace," said Mr Peumery.
The hardline mayor even launched a petition - which gathered 3,000 signatures - in an effort to stop the migrants from being sent to Rocquencourt, but claims he was "snubbed" by government officials, who are yet to respond to his request.
He added he had "no choice" but to organise a protest march in order to be heard.
An aerial view of a bulldozer moving debris at the site known as the Jungle Calais migrant camp
‘Most locals are incredibly worried and vehemently oppose the rehousing plan’ says Mayor Peumery
The French government demolished the 'Jungle' shanty town - located by the Franco-British border in Calais - in October in a bid to discourage UK-bound refugees from entering France illegally.
More than 7,000 immigrants were evacuated from the camp and rehoused in temporary reception centres dotted across the territory.
Paris migrant camps grow after 'Jungle' demolition
But the tent camp's closure has not stopped Britain-bound migrants from heading back to the border: 10 migrants were arrested near a chemical plant in Calais on Thursday.
The migrants, who are thought to have run away from reception centres in order to pursue their 'UK dream,' made their way back to the border town by hiding inside a Calais-bound truck, police officials said.