Rioting continues overnight in Belfast

Police and Army personnel were called in to control rioting that broke out in east Belfast for the second night running.

A PSNI spokesman said the fresh outbreak of sectarian violence broke out shortly after 10pm last night.

Loyalist and Republican gangs converged on Madrid Street and began pelting each other with stones, fireworks and other missiles.

A derelict house was also set on fire.

But by 2am police described the area as calm.

There were no reports of any injuries.

Sinn Fein claimed that at least four people were injured as trouble erupted on Tuesday night.

The party said the violence was sparked after a number of houses in the republican Short Strand district were raided.

A police spokesman said their officers and troops were "bombarded with missiles" including petrol bombs, acid bombs and ammonia bombs.

Police fired three plastic bullets during what they described as "severe disturbances".

There has been trouble in the area since the weekend when loyalist and nationalist crowds clashed.