Landlady 'putting pub back together' after protest

Businesses across Northampton, including the Spread Eagle pub, boarded up windows as a precaution for the planned protests

The owner of a pub who "worried" for her safety in anticipation of a protest said she will spend the day "putting it back together again".

Maria Carr, the landlady at the Spread Eagle pub in Northampton, decided to close and board up the windows because "it was better to be safe than sorry".

Police arrested three people for public order offences at a planned protest in the town centre on Wednesday evening.

Ms Carr said the venue will be "back open as normal" after contractors removed the boards.

The Spread Eagle will reopen this afternoon with landlady Maria Carr reassured by the "amazing" local community

Other businesses in Northampton took similar precautions with information online suggesting a protest would take place.

Ms Carr felt the pub was "at high risk of looting" so her staff "removed" all glassware, cutlery, and furniture into the cellar.

Northamptonshire Police said about 150 counter-protesters gathered peacefully at the junction of Kettering Road and Clare Street at 19:00 BST.

Regular customers checked in on Ms Carr throughout the day to make sure she felt safe, gestures she described as "amazing."