A budding anti-Brexit group is hoping to bring Swindon in line with a national grassroots movement opposing Britain leaving the European Union.

Swindon for Europe aims to unite a cross-party following in the town who seek a second Brexit referendum, and raise awareness of issues caused by the UK’s departure from the EU.

The founder of the group, Steve Rouse, 59, said: “We’ve had a much more positive reaction than we expected. Most people can’t believe we exist in Swindon.

“There are pushing 800 grassroots organisations that have sprung up in the last year all over the country.

“There is going to be a series of events in September and October all over the country.”

Steve, who ran a dance company before moving into teaching therapeutic exercise classes, said his belief that Britain’s future belongs in the Union comes from his extensive travels.

He said: “I was away for 27 years, all over the world and the continent.

“I’ve changed from being a Eurosceptic to a Europhile over the last 10 years because of what I’ve seen being there.

“With global corporations making governments the size of ours seem irrelevant, it’s only supranational organisations who can stand up to them.”

The fledgling organisation held its first event last month, with a fund-raising ‘Euro-Party’ involving a tombola, European foods and anti-Brexit protest songs. The £35 raised went towards setting up their community bank account.

Guests who attended included Talis Kimberley-Fairbourn, the Green Party candidate for Swindon South in the 2017 general election. Katherine T Owen, a local spiritual writer, contributed a poem for the occasion.

Inspiration for the group came from others established in nearby towns and cities, as Steve explained: “We just want to show that Swindon can do it too. Bristol’s group has at least 5,500 members. Bath is pushing 1,000 members.”

Organised through a Facebook page, called Swindon for Europe, most of the gatherings so far have involved spreading the word through leafleting events including Swindon Pride, and at Swindon train station.

Ultimately, they hope to bring about a second referendum, as they believe the first was not conducted under conditions that should be considered binding.

“What the Leavers are asking to do is deeply change the constitution more than it has been changed in hundreds of years,” said Steve.

“It was only constructed as an advisory paper: it wasn’t to be acted on.

“If we could speak up and not swallow that line of ‘you lost, get over it’, then we might make people see that the referendum was not a final say."