VIOLENT CLASHES HAVE taken place in the nationalist Ardoyne area of north Belfast after an Orange Order parade commemorating 12 July passed the area.

Police used water cannons to push back nationalist protesters while a car was set alight and petrol bombs were thrown at riot police during a tense stand-off, according to the AFP.

Groups of loyalists and republicans traded insults across police lines after the march went through the Ardoyne area. A rival protest by a residents’ group from Ardoyne was allowed to go ahead shortly after the Orange Order parade had passed through.

The PSNI said that all parades and protests had ended by around 9pm and police are working to restore calm in the area.