Violence spreads to Liverpool

Violence has broken out in Liverpool with police dealing with “a number of isolated outbreaks of disorder” in the south of the city, Merseyside Police said.

The force said cars had been set alight by troublemakers and there had been reports of criminal damage.

Members of the public were told to avoid the Smithdown Road, Upper Parliament Street, Lodge Lane and Lawrence Road.

A spokeswoman for Merseyside Police said: “We can confirm that officers are dealing with a number of isolated outbreaks of disorder in the south Liverpool area tonight.

“Officers were called at around 10pm to reports of vehicles on fire and criminal damage.

“A number of officers were deployed to the area to deal with the incidents and the force is dealing with its partners and other members of the emergency services.”

A witness in north Liverpool described scenes of mass violence in the city.

Riot police were working to contain a crowd of about 300 people, many of whom were youths with their heads and faces covered, according to the witness.

The witness said: “They are stopping cars, pulling people out of the cars, then setting fire to the vehicles. Every car they have walked past has been absolutely trashed, with all of the windows smashed.

“Literally hundreds of cars have been damaged.

“Police look like they’re trying to get them penned in.”

He added that a branch of Tesco had been looted and then set on fire by the rioters.