Man badly hurt in night of violence

A man was in hospital today with a serious head injury after trouble flared at a flashpoint area of north Belfast.

The assault took place close to the junction of the nationalist Ardoyne and loyalist Twaddell Avenue areas just before 10pm yesterday.

Police said there had been reports of stone throwing in the area throughout the evening.

Meanwhile, police are investigating reports of two petrol bombs being thrown a short distance away an hour later.

Just before 11pm, police received reports that the two devices were thrown from the loyalist Glenbryn Park area into hitting the peace line behind houses in the nationalist Alliance Avenue area.