Pictured: Police up patrols with roads shut around Manchester ahead of Conservative party conference

Police have stepped up patrols around Manchester city centre ahead of the Tory party conference tomorrow (Sunday, October 1).

Running from Sunday through to Wednesday next week, it’s the eighth Tory annual conference to be held in the city centre since 2009.

The four-day conference, based at the Manchester Central convention complex, is set to bring thousands of extra people into the city centre, police have said.

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A security ring of steel has been established at the venue and in other locations around the area. Tory MPs as well as cabinet members and the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, will attend for debates and keynote speeches, together with hundreds of delegates.

In pictures taken today, Saturday, there is a large police presence, with officers on horses and numerous roads closed around the city centre.

Greater Manchester Police officers are also supported by officers from Merseyside Police as the final preparations are completed.

Steel fencing has been put up around the Midland Hotel and the conference centre, with pictures from earlier this week showing sniffer dogs and patrolling officers around the area.

GMP has launched an operation codenamed 'Protector' to oversee security at this year's conference. As planned protests and marches are publicised, GMP said additional officers would be carrying out 'high visibility patrols in the lead up to and during the conference'. Armed officers will also patrol the streets.

Campaign group The People's Assembly said it was organising a 'national demonstration' and 'Festival of Resistance',