Woman released after arrest at immigration protest

Protesters and counter-protesters met at Bristol's Castle Park

A woman arrested during an anti-immigration protest and counter-protest has been released from police custody.

A group opposing the government's use of hotels to house asylum seekers gathered in Bristol's Castle Park on Saturday afternoon, and were met with a much larger group of counter protesters.

A 37-year-old woman was detained on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker, Avon and Somerset Police said, and had been released under investigation.

The force said no officers sustained serious injuries or required hospital treatment, but said inquiries would be carried out after reports of assaults on staff.

Protesters from both sides of the debate turned out

A small number of others were arrested during the protest, but were de-arrested the same day, the force said.

The policing operation was stood down at about 17:00 BST on Saturday, but a dispersal order giving officers the power to move groups or individuals likely to cause a disturbance, remained in place until 07:00 on Sunday.

Chief Inspector Keith Smith said the police's priority had been to enable "lawful peaceful protest for both groups" and that the two protests passed without significant incident.