UK protests LIVE: Police officers injured, shops looted as violent disorder breaks out in major cities

Violent disorder has broken out in major towns across the UK including Liverpool, Hull and Bristol. The unrest comes after a wave of far-right demonstrations took place across the country on Saturday.

Merseyside Police said a number of officers were injured during “serious disorder” in Liverpool city centre, with one officer being hit on the head by a chair. Another officer was kicked and knocked off his motorcycle by a demonstrator and others tried to kick riot shields.

In Hull, four people have been arrested as three officers were hurt after a group of people targeted a hotel which houses asylum seekers.

Elsewhere, bricks were thrown at officers in Stoke-on-Trent, there were arrests for violent disorder in Bristol and fireworks were thrown amid tense exchanges between an anti-Islamic group and an anti-racism rally in Belfast. Skirmishes also broke out between demonstrators and punks in Blackpool.

Earlier in the day fights broke out in Manchester's Piccadilly Gardens as hundreds of protesters descended on the city centre.

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Lancashire Police say they arrested 20 people, with the biggest disorder seen in Blackpool. There were also disturbances in Preston and Blackburn.

Assistant Chief Constable Phil Davies said: “We have today made a significant number of arrests following tension in Blackpool and some minor disruption in parts of Preston and Blackburn.

“In Blackpool, we have witnessed some mindless thuggery from individuals, who we believe to be from outside of the county, intent on causing issues in our communities.

“We have also seen some small pockets of tension elsewhere in the county.”

Hull's Shoe Zone store has been set on fire amid clashes between police and