AN ANTI-EU campaigner is defying police after hanging a giant swastika from the front of his home.

Taxi driver Dusty Miller has put up the huge banner featuring the symbol in the latest of a series of stunts in protest against the European Union ahead of the forthcoming referendum.

The poster in Hedge End is believed to have been on the front of the house in Bursledon Road since this morning and has a picture of the Nazi symbol as well as writing framing the image.

The slogan says: “Have we British forgotten the last attempt to remove our freedom and democracy?

"We did not fight two world wars to surrender and be ruled by a corrupt EU!”

Now he has pledged to defy requests from police to take it down after after officers visited his Hedge End home following complaints from neighbours and the area's Jewish community.

Residents have slammed his actions as "offensive" and "going too far".

But Mr Miller denies the sign is offensive claiming he has put it up to "incite debate" and remind people of the dangers of losing democracy.

Officers visited his house shortly after 10am today.

Mr Miller said the police told him to "alter" the poster but are not accusing him of committing any crime.

But he has promised to take it down seven days after the referendum scheduled for June 23 and confirms it will be the last poster he puts up.

He said: "I'm not promoting Nazism in any shape or form. It's a questioning whether we have forgotten the last attempt to remove our freedom and democracy. I am trying to defend our democracy because it has been stolen by the EU and we are trying to get it back.

"During a referendum and an election you have an opportunity to display a poster and this is going to incite debate and conversation and focus people's minds. We've got to get fire in people's bellies.

"You need to be able to discuss this without being called a racist or an anti Semite."

Last Christmas, the house was covered in a banner asking Santa Claus for Arabic lessons and the previous year there was an upside-down Union Flag.

Neighbour Liz Colthart, 35, said: "He's gone too far. I find it very offensive and very in your face and I don't want to wake up in the morning and see a huge swastika. "Drawing similarities with the Nazis isn't right. I hope he is made to take it down."

Paul Butler, 63, said: "It is controversial but I don't know whether it is good or bad. I don't think he means to be offensive. He's got his own thoughts but he shouldn't be doing it like that."

Mr Miller denied being racist - saying that he was born in India and that his brother's family, who are of Jewish origin, are supportive of the poster.

He said: "My brother married someone Jewish and they know how passionately I feel about democracy and the core of the message.

"I apologise for any inconvenience but promise that it will stop as soon as the election and referendum are over and seven days after that they will see no more posters.

"If we stay in the EU I will abide by the vote."