Water cannon used against loyalist rioters in Belfast

Fresh loyalist riots erupted in Belfast last night, with the PSNI using water cannons against stone-throwing youths in the north of the city.

A large crowd of youths had gathered in the Forthriver estate, where they began throwing bricks, stones and other missiles at the police.

Vehicles were also set on fire in the area.

Earlier yesterday, four people were arrested after loyalist demonstrators blocked roads in Belfast for the fourth day in a row.

Several cars were also hijacked and set alight after the PSNI raided a number of houses in the loyalist Highfield estate as part of their investigation into the recent upsurge in loyalist violence.

Unionist politicians say the violence is being caused by a perception that the peace process is damaging loyalist culture and only rewarding nationalists.