Two admit stirring up racial hatred after Southport attack

Cheshire Police said it had "arrested and charged several people for hate crime and inciting hatred" in recent days

Two men have admitted publishing written material to stir up racial hatred during a week of unrest in England.

Cheshire Police said Christopher Taggart, 36, and Rhys McDonald, 34, published material between 29 July and 6 August.

The men, both from Runcorn, admitted publishing written material to stir up racial hatred at Chester Magistrates' Court and will be sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday.

Taggart also admitted possession of an offensive weapon in a private place.

Unrest broke out across England in the days after the fatal stabbings of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar at a Taylor Swift-themed event in Southport on 29 July.

Prosecutors and police have previously said the disorder was fuelled by misinformation on social media.

A Cheshire Police representative said while there had been "no incidents of violent disorder" in the county, the force had "arrested and charged several people for hate crime and inciting hatred" in the aftermath of the Southport attack.