A PETITION to cancel Donald Trump's state visit has hit national headlines this morning after almost one million people called on him to stay out of the UK. 

More than 985,000 people have now signed the petition, set up yesterday, calling on the new president's planned state visit to be cancelled.

Only 100,000 signatures are needed for the issue to be debated in Parliament.

Around 16,000 people who signed the petition are from our region. 

Trump caused controversy over the weekend by banning people from seven mainly Muslim countries travelling to America.

The petition was created by Graham Guest and the number of signatures has risen by tens of thousands this morning alone. The current number is well over 982,000 as of 9.30am today (Monday). 

The petition reads: "Donald Trump should be allowed to enter the UK in his capacity as head of the US Government, but he should not be invited to make an official State Visit because it would cause embarrassment to Her Majesty the Queen.

"Donald Trump's well documented misogyny and vulgarity disqualifies him from being received by Her Majesty the Queen or the Prince of Wales. Therefore during the term of his presidency Donald Trump should not be invited to the United Kingdom for an official State Visit."

So which constituencies voted most strongly against Trumps visit? Here's a breakdown of votes so far: 

  • Colchester 1,703
  • Chelmsford 1,562
  • Southend West 1,246
  • Harwich and North Essex 1,180
  • Rochford and Southend East 1,166
  • Brentwood and Ongar 1,047
  • Witham 934
  • Braintree 924
  • Rayleigh and Wickford 819
  • Maldon 802
  • Basildon and Billericay 795
  • Thurrock 682
  • South Basildon and East Thurrock 620
  • Castle Point 540
  • Clacton 533

Despite the huge public reaction, Downing Street officials confirmed its position has not changed.

A spokesman for number ten said: "An invitation has been extended and accepted."

Ministers face being hauled into the Commons later amid continued concerns about the impact on Britons, as well as the way the Government has responded.

The Foreign Office said Britons with dual citizenship would be exempt from the controversial travel ban, but UK residents have been caught up in the chaos.

The US president accepted an invitation to visit Britain later this year, where he is due to be hosted by the Queen and would be treated to all the pomp and ceremony accorded to a state visit.

Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the SNP have called for the lavish state visit to be cancelled and Tory MPs have warned against allowing it to go ahead.

About the US ban:

  • The ban applies to only individuals travelling from one of the seven named countries - Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
  • Travellers to the US from anywhere other than one of those countries will experience no extra checks, regardless of nationality or place of birth.
  • UK nationals travelling from one of those countries are not included in the ban, even if they were born in one of the affected states.
  • Dual citizens from one of the seven countries travelling to the US from outside those countries are not affected.
  • Dual nationals might have extra checks if they travel directly from one of the seven countries.