Riot police have stepped in to prevent clashes between the English Defence League and anti-fascist protesters as demonstrations take place in Liverpool.

EDL demonstrators gathered at the Lord Warden pub on London Road from about midday on Saturday while an anti-fascist rally was held outside nearby Lime Street train station.



The planned EDL demonstration was originally confined to a side street as officers contained protesters but the group later moved to the station, where police vans and officers in riot gear surrounded them.

The group said the protest was being held to highlight several issues, including Islamist terrorism. Members from branches including Coventry and the north-east waved St George’s flags.

Bottles were seen being thrown between the two opposing groups of protesters, and bangs of what is believed to have been firecrackers were heard. Lime Street was closed off by police as the demonstrations continued.



The march was brought to a standstill for about 45 minutes when anti-fascist protesters sat in the road near Lime Street station.

Scuffles broke out between the two groups as the EDL demonstrators were moved back towards the station just before 3pm. Riot officers contained the group of demonstrators as they walked back along Lime Street.