England riots: From the scene

Rioting continued for a fourth night on Tuesday, with disturbances in cities including Manchester, Salford, Liverpool, Nottingham and Birmingham.

BBC journalists report on the aftermath of another night of violence.

Chris Long in Manchester city centre

A legion of volunteers, armed with brushes, brooms, dustpans and bags, are out on the streets to clean up the debris left behind from a night of looting in the city centre.

High Street stores and independent shops were attacked in Manchester city centre

Not that they have too much to do - one volunteer said he had "come down to do my bit, but most of it has been done". The council, like the police before them, have had a busy night.

Along the main retail streets, shops selling mobile phones, electrical equipment and high-value clothes had been targeted, with boards and splintered panes making up the frontage of many.

Small independent businesses also suffered losses in the Northern Quarter.

A pair of jewellers were sweeping up after being cleared out - one said he "didn't blame the police, they were over-run, but I've lost everything".

Even here, there was the healing power of a good community taking hold. While the two worked on their shop, a local bar owner came in with cups of coffee and an invitation to lunch.

In Manchester, at least, it feels like the community is quickly making it known that the riot isn't going to destroy its beloved city.

Dan Sinclair in Canning Circus, Nottingham

Driving through Nottingham city centre there is little evidence of the night before, but Canning Circus residents say they feel shaken by the events.

Five police stations were attacked by rioters carrying weapons in Nottingham

Five police stations in Nottingham were targeted by mobs of rioters, leaving in their wake also destruction to cars, pubs and shops.

Canning Circus police station was one of those hit, set alight after fire-bombs were thrown at the building at about 22:00 BST.

The police station is now taped off and a Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue sniffer dog and police officers are combing the scene.

Around the corner local residents were left bewildered by the night of violence, which saw a group of 40 to 50 youths march through their streets carrying an assortment of weapons.

"It was very scary last night," says Janette Levy, 39.

"I saw a large gang of youths, some as young as eight or nine, all in black running up the street and shouting and making a lot of noise.

"I'm disgusted. I don't know why they are doing it."

Andrew Insley was also at Canning Circus last night: "I saw it happen, they came up the road, 40 or 50 of them at 10 o'clock. They were dressed in black, jumping all over the cars and they had bricks, bars, clubs and petrol bombs.

"What can you do? I can't understand why the police weren't here. They all need to be remanded in custody until it dies down, I'm going on holiday - I won't let those scum stop me."

One resident, who did not want to give his name, said he did not feel that the aggression was aimed at the community but the police.

Jennifer Hawley in Wavertree, Liverpool

On Lawrence Road I can see two burnt-out cars. But there are also a team of volunteers who've come from areas across the city including Fazakerley, about nine miles away, and Childwall and Belle Vale and Anfield.

Residents who tried to confront the rioters say the perpetrators came from outside the area

I saw about 20 volunteers, but there are different groups all over the city and, according to Facebook, there are as many as 600 volunteers across Merseyside.

Residents are obviously angry, but they say they're not blaming people from around here - they saw people in cars coming in.

Because it's a tight-knit community everyone knows the people who live here. One local said he was urging people to take down registration numbers of cars.

They came out to confront the rioters but there wasn't enough of them to make a difference. They asked them: "What are you doing, why are you doing this?"

There's also a couple of shop fronts kicked in. At the Liver Launderette all the windows are gone but it's not been looted. Apparently people have still been going in to do their washing. People are just carrying on as normal.

There's a bakery which has been boarded up - someone broke the window - but it's still open and there's a queue of people going in.

Looters also kicked in half the door at Belal's newsagent in Lawrence Road, got in and stole all the cigarettes and £500 cash. At Pound & Plus the shutters have been partly ripped off.

Police forensics officers are now on the scene and are taking pictures.

The police helicopter was out all night and everyone I've spoken to said they didn't sleep because it was out until three o'clock. They could hear barking, bangs, shouting and screaming.

Caroline Gall in Winson Green, Birmingham

There is an eerie silence and calm along a normally bustling road in Winson Green in Birmingham.

Three men were run over and killed trying to protect their property in Birmingham on Tuesday night

Residents have been standing in their doorways and shops looking at the police vans that have cordoned off the scene by a petrol station on Dudley Road.

Shops are open and local people are trying to go about their business as usual but the atmosphere is subdued as the community comes to terms with the dramatic events of the early hours on Wednesday.

A large contingent of police officers remain, walking around the local area.

Shabana Mahmood - MP for Birmingham Ladywood - invited residents to a meeting above a fruit and vegetable shop on Dudley Road on Wednesday morning.

About 40 people attended, along with the Bishop of Aston and other clergy, to discuss concerns and call for calm after the past days of disorder.

Bishop Andrew Watson said tensions were high at the meeting but felt it was helpful and hoped that community members would listen. Fears of another night of disorder is a strong talking point.