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Five alleged far-right protesters will stand trial over violent clashes with left wing activists near Lime Street station .

The men each deny conspiracy to commit violent disorder, after fights broke out at the rally on February 27 last year.

Shane Calvert, 34, of Shadsworth Close in Blackburn, Lancashire, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court this morning.

Calvert, appearing via video link from HMP Liverpool , spoke only to confirm his personal details and deny the offence.

He will stand trial alongside Wayne Bell, 36, Nicky Prescott, 43, Brian Stamp, 34, and Alan Raine, 40, in October.

Stamp, of Talbot Road, South Shields; Bell, of Mount Walk, Castleford; Prescott, of Fawcett Close, Blackburn; and Raine, of Percival Street, Sunderland, all deny the charge.

The court heard the trial, listed for October 23, is expected to last five to seven days.

Prosecutors say it will be the second of seven trials involving alleged conspirators from both groups.

Calvert and Stamp have been remanded in custody, while Bell, Prescott and Raine are on bail with conditions not to enter Liverpool unless to attend court or see solicitors by appointment.

The charges relate to large-scale public disorder at St George’s Plateau between a group calling themselves the North West Infidels and anti-fascist activists.

Although police tried to keep the two groups apart, they were heavily outnumbered.

A number of the Infidels group broke through the cordon and fought with anti-fascists on two occasions.

Paving stones, flares and smoke-bombs were thrown during the protests and several bystanders were injured.