Rioting breaks out in Belfast

Riots have broken out in West Belfast after a controversial Orange parade was allowed to pass through the mainly Catholic Springfield area.

Riot police have had to use water cannon and plastic bullets to disperse a crowd of about 300 Nationalist youths who objected to the march being held.

The rioting began after the parade had passed and members of the community approached police officers, who had been in the area in case of a confrontation, and asked them to leave.

The police refused to leave and this sparked off a series of scuffles and stones and bricks were thrown at police vehicles.

The parade route has become a source of dispute in recent years and previously Orangemen have been ordered by the Parades Commission not to play music while they march.

But much to the surprise of residents the Commission had decided to permit today’s march to go ahead.