We’ve got a bit more now from Met Police chief Mark Rowley, who says the bulk of people they're arresting for violence in the riots are "not your average man on the street".

“These are criminals, they’re thugs, they’re not patriots," he tells the BBC.

He says police have been carrying out dawn raids this morning to arrest people who were "seriously violent" in last week’s riots – saying 70% of them have got criminal records.

He says they're "not protesters" either, adding: "Any suggestion they're patriots or they've got a cause that they're protesting about is nonsense - they're criminals."

We've just been hearing from Met Police Commissioner Mark Rowley, who sent thousands of officers to spots around the north of England yesterday and says he's "pleased" with how it went.

“We put thousands of officers on the street and I think the show of force from the police and frankly the show of unity from communities, together defeated the challenges that we’ve seen," he says.

“It went off very peacefully last night. A couple of locations we had some local criminals turn out and try and create a bit of anti-social behaviour and we arrested a few of them.

“But it was a very successful night and the fears of extreme-right disorder were abated. A successful operation thanks to communities and police.”

Image source, Eddie Mitchell

The Conservative police and crime commissioner for Sussex says the rally in Brighton last night was people "there to show their solidarity" against the recent wave of far-right protests.

"There were bands playing and flags waving and signs saying things like 'you can't spell community without unity' and 'no hate here' and of course 'don't hate, gyrate', which is very Brighton," Katy Bourne told BBC Radio 4's World Tonight programme last night.

"From what I could see there were probably a handful, I mean literally four or five who perhaps didn't share the same views, they were well outnumbered.

"It was very encouraging to see that strength and that solidarity."

Thomas Mackintosh
Live reporter

Several of Thursday's front pages carry pictures of thousands of anti-racism protesters who took to the streets on Wednesday across parts of England.

The Daily Mail calls it the "night anti-hate marchers faced down the thugs" and the paper says "several rallies were thwarted" by protesters who stared down feared far-right rioters.

According to the Guardian, some formed human shields to protect asylum centres.

Those involved in the street violence could be barred from attending football matches, the i newspaper says, adding police are looking into links with hooliganism.

• For a full review of Thursday's newspapers click here

• In Liverpool, hundreds of people gathered outside an asylum services office, whose windows had been boarded up as a precaution, to support refugees and immigrants
• In London, the Metropolitan Police said thousands of people had attended protests in Walthamstow and North Finchley which had "passed without major incident"
• About 1,500 counter-protesters gathered in Bristol where streets were filled with trade unionists, anti-fascists and members of the black and Asian community
• In Newcastle-on-Tyne, about 1,000 counter-protesters, mostly Muslims, took over the pavement in front of the Beacon Centre, where an immigration service business had been on a list of expected targets

Read our story on the rallies.

Patrick Jackson
Live page editor

Image source, AFP

Good morning and welcome to our continuing live coverage of the aftermath of some of the worst rioting England has seen in years.

Fears of new violent disorder by anti-immigration protesters on Wednesday evening largely proved unfounded. Instead, thousands of anti-racism demonstrators turned out in cities and towns to show solidarity with minorities.

In Accrington, Lancashire, pubgoers could be seen embracing Muslims in the street while in Walthamstow, London, one of hundreds of demonstrators told the BBC he had turned out because his multi-ethnic community wanted to "ensure that no-one ever pushes us around".

Stay with us as our reporters across the country bring you the latest developments from the courts processing hundreds of suspected rioters, as well as fresh reaction to the disturbances, which began when false rumours spread after the deadly mass stabbing in Southport last week.

Aoife Walsh
Live editor

Over the course of this evening, we've been bringing you updates as anti-immigration protesters were outnumbered by counter-protesters rallying across England after a week of unrest.

Businesses boarded up windows and closed early today, as thousands of police officers braced for further disorder, with about 100 events feared to be taking place.

But gatherings in locations where anti-immigration protests had been expected – including north London, Bristol and Newcastle – were largely peaceful.

Counter-protesters turned out in large numbers, chanting slogans such as "hate not welcome here" and "racism off our streets". Only a handful of arrests were reported.

We're pausing our coverage shortly, but you can read more about how the evening unfolded here.

We've heard some reports of disorder in Croydon, which the Metropolitan Police says was not linked to protest, but with the intention to "cause disruption and fuel disorder".

Eight people were arrested, the force says, for a range of alleged offences, including assaulting emergency workers, possession of offensive weapons and other offences.

More arrests will follow, the Met adds in a post on X. , external

Here's a clip from Brentford, west London, where counter-protesters chanted "we won't be silenced", in response to an anticipated anti-immigration protest:

Mike Stevens
Reporting from Blackpool

Police managed to keep order in the South Shore area of Blackpool, despite some angry and racist outbursts from the crowd of about one hundred protesters.

There were also a handful of counter-protesters.

A woman in her 70s waved her stick at a group of young men wearing balaclavas, telling them everyone was welcome in Blackpool regardless of the colour of their skin.

Police dogs were used to control the crowd and one man was arrested. Most of the protestors have now gone and a small police presence remains.

Image source, Eddie Mitchell

In Brighton, counter-protesters turned out in their hundreds, outnumbering a handful of anti-immigration protesters, who ended up sheltering against a building in Queens Road, surrounded by police.

Counter-protesters were shouting at them "you came to the wrong town", and "shame on you" and "this is what community looks like", along with calls of "Nazi scum off our streets".

Dozens more police officers arrived to double the strength of the ring around the anti-immigration protesters so it was two officers deep.

Police later moved them away from the crowd, before they were driven away in a police van towards the railway station.

Read more here.

Police in Bristol say they have made an arrest after a brick was thrown at a police vehicle during a "largely peaceful" protest.

Avon and Somerset Police said the arrest was made on West Street.

"We've facilitated a largely peaceful protest but we won't tolerate acts of criminality," Avon and Somerset Police said.

"Significant numbers of officers remain in the Old Market area to maintain order."

Steve Humphrey
Reporting from Portsmouth

Earlier, we reported that anti-immigration protesters and police have been involved in a series of incidents along Mile End Road in Portsmouth.

The demonstrators have repeatedly disrupted traffic by standing in the road. About 200 protestors have been involved.

There has been one arrest, the BBC understands.

A Muslim anti-fascist protester has spoken of the moment his group was embraced in support by pub-goers in Lancashire.

Thousands of counter-protesters have taken to the streets in towns and cities across the UK after rumours that far-right organised gatherings would target immigration centres and mosques.

Haddi Malik, 25, joined a peaceful march in Accrington, Lancashire, walking between two mosques in the town to counter a potential right-wing march.

Malik told the BBC it was a "massive" moment when pubgoers came up to some of the people marching and began hugging them.

• Read more on this story here

Steve Humphrey
Reporting from Portsmouth

A group of anti-immigration protesters blocked a major road in Portsmouth.

Up to 200 protesters, some holding union flags and chanting “save our kids”, repeatedly blocked Mile End Road, just outside the city’s ferry port.

It is one of the main roads in and out of the city.

Police keep clearing them from the road but they keep running back in, blocking the carriageway in both directions.

They gathered first outside Norman House near the ferry port, a building that is used by the immigration service.

The protesters have now moved towards Portsmouth city centre.

Image source, PA Media

Counter-protesters have been asked to "disperse peacefully" by Northamptonshire Police, after a planned protest failed to materialise in Northampton.

Around 150 counter-protesters "gathered peacefully" in Northampton, the police said earlier in a post on X, external.

The force added there had been no disorder this evening and no members of the public or officers were injured - but said that three people were arrested for public order offences and are currently in police custody.

Here's some footage showing the situation earlier in Bristol, where hundreds of counter-protesters took to the streets to ahead of planned anti-immigration protest:

Michael Keohan
Reporting from Chatham

Around 50 counter-protesters have been met by 150 anti-immigration protestors outside a hotel in Chatham, Kent.

Members of the group are holding anti-racism placards supporting refugees and chanting.

A police presence is currently at the scene outside the Holiday Inn.

Scenes boiled over at one point after union jacks were waved and two people were arrested after scuffles broke out with the police.

The two sets of protesters are now being kept on either side of the road by officers.

Read more here.

Image source, EPA

Over the last few hours, thousands of counter-protesters have been taking to the streets in several cities across England ahead of anticipated unrest.

So far, there has been no major signs of trouble – our reporters on the ground say the counter-protesters are outnumbering any anti-immigration demonstrations.

If you're just joining us, here's a glance at where the situation stands now:

• Huge numbers turned out for a counter-protest in Walthamstow, with many holding up signs reading "hate not welcome here"
• Similar scenes are playing out in several places, including Bristol, Southampton, Birmingham, Liverpool, Sheffield, Aldershot, London and Newcastle
• Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has thanked officers working to "protect and support local communities" tonight
• Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said there was "no excuse for thuggery and criminality on our streets", while Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned those looking to cause disorder would "face the full force of the law"
• Earlier today, three people were jailed over their roles in the unrest over the past week

Stay with us for more.

Patrick O'Hagan
Reporting from Aldershot

As the sun dipped below the horizon in Aldershot, cries of "stop the boats" from one side were greeted with shouts of "stop the far right" from the other.

Neither side wanted to be drowned out by the other and in the last few minutes here a PA system set up by the Stop The Boat protesters blasted out Always Look on the Bright Side of Life by the Monty Python’s Eric Idle.

Don’t be fooled though by the lyrics of the song, protesters from both sides have also been hurling insults across the road which separates them.

The police are keeping the two sides apart though and while the noise levels are high, tensions for now at least remain low.