Five charged following riots across Lancashire

A mob of nearly 1,000 people were involved in unrest in Blackpool

Five people have been charged and a further four have been arrested following riots that took place across Lancashire days after the deaths of three girls in Southport.

Four men, aged between 19 and 41, from Blackpool, have been charged with offences including violent disorder, assaulting an emergency worker, racially aggravated criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon.

They are due before magistrates in Lancaster later.

A 15-year-old boy from Fulwood has been charged with using threatening or abusive behaviour with intent to cause fear or provoke unlawful violence.

'Never acceptable'

He has been remanded to appear at Preston Magistrates' Court.

Four other people who were arrested are:

• A 17-year-old boy from Preston was held on suspicion of a public order before being released under investigation

• A 20-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl were both arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and are currently in custody

• An 18-year-old woman from Blackpool, arrested on suspicion of possession of a bladed article, has since been released with no further action

Det Ch Supt Pauline Stables said: “These charges and arrests show just how seriously we are taking reports of disorder in Lancashire.

"It is not, and never will be acceptable in our county.

“We will not tolerate this behaviour, and we will identify you, find you and bring you to justice if you are responsible for these crimes."

She appealed for any witnesses or any information "no matter how insignificant you may think it is".

Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, were stabbed to death at a holiday club on 29 July.

Violent disorder then erupted in towns and cities across the UK, after misinformation about the suspect being an asylum seeker was shared online, causing injuries to officers and widespread damage.