Five held after rally violence

FIVE people were arrested at an English Defence League (EDL) rally in Stoke-on-Trent after trouble broke out yesterday.

Police were assaulted and vehicles were damaged when EDL supporters broke through police cordons.

About 1,500 EDL supporters were at the rally against Islamic extremism, Staffordshire Police said.

Up to 300 members from the group Unite Against Fascism gathered on the other side of Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent.

Supt Dave Mellor said more than 600 officers had been deployed to the rally and disorder had been "sporadic".

Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Sikh faith leaders signed a pledge against all forms of racism, ahead of the event on Saturday.

The Right Rev Gordon Mursell, the Church of England Bishop of Stafford, said after signing the pledge on Thursday: "We believe that real diversity actually helps create a vibrant and attractive city.

"The EDL and BNP think the opposite. That is why we oppose them."

Staffordshire Police said it had sufficient officers in place to deal with the demonstration and had learned "valuable lessons" from other police forces around the country who had dealt with similar protests.

Ninety people were arrested following clashes between EDL campaigners and anti-fascist supporters in Birmingham in September.