The Labour MP for South West Norfolk, Terry Jermy, said the unrest had "put Thetford back decades" after years of trying to improve the town's reputation.

Speaking to the BBC on Friday, he said: "It's been awful the last few nights, it's been terrifying for many Thetford residents."

He said he had been made aware of properties being "pelted with eggs" on Thursday and said the town was "on edge".

He said the violence was "scaring and terrifying people who live in Thetford, particularly people from minority ethnic communities who are contacting me terrified that they are going to be misidentified as an asylum seeker and attacked".

He urged fellow politicians to "call out" the violent protests and assaults of police officers.

Jermy has previously called on the Home Office to end "secrecy and confusion" around plans to house more asylum seekers in former military barracks – including at RAF Barnham, near Thetford.

Scott Hussey, a Reform councillor for the nearby Brecks division on Norfolk County Council, said a "peaceful protest" had started at the town's police station on Wednesday night before it moved to Clover Way.

He described the protest as "spirited" and said there had been "some skirmishes" but said he saw no violence.

He accused the Home Office of "opening a number of these HMOs across Thetford" and "trying to rush through the site for asylum seekers at Barnham".

A Home Office spokesperson condemned the behaviour, warning that "anyone taking part in this criminal activity will face the full force of the law".

They acknowledged concerns about immigration in Thetford but condemned the violence of some protesters.

A spokesperson said: "The right to protest is fundamental to our democracy and the concerns of communities are central to our immigration reforms."

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