Baton rounds fired at rioters as more trouble erupts in Northern Ireland

Petrol bombs, bricks, bottles and fireworks were hurled at officers during the stand-off in Ardoyne in north Belfast. A car was hijacked and set alight and police water cannons were deployed.

The trouble followed a nationalist protest march held to coincide with an Orange Order parade through the sectarian interface following the Twelfth commemorations, marking the 1690 Battle of the Boyne.

Ardoyne has been the scene of serious trouble in the past between police and nationalists following similar loyal order parades.

It is a working-class residential area of mainly terrace housing.

The water cannon was also used to extinguish a fire on a shop roof.

A large crowd of loyalists gathered nearby. The parade passed peacefully past Ardoyne shops and there was a silent protest by nationalist residents.

A PSNI spokeswoman said: “Shortly before 7pm this evening a number of missiles, including bricks and masonry, were thrown at police in the Estorial Park area.”

She said three baton rounds were discharged by officers. Fireworks were also used by rioters.

Police remained in the area and were working to restore calm.

On Monday night, violence broke out in the nationalist areas of Broadway, Old Park and North Queen Street in the west of the city and continued through the early hours of yesterday. More than 40 petrol bombs were thrown, vehicles hijacked and 24 police were hurt.