VIDEO: Large numbers for EDL protest and counter-demonstration in Bradford city centre (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

VIDEO: Large numbers for EDL protest and counter-demonstration in Bradford city centre

2:50pm Saturday 28th August 2010 in Local Video

Police today kept protesting groups in Bradford well apart as the English Defence League held its rally in the city centre.

Despite the two major demonstrations by the English Defence League and the We Are Bradford/Unite Against Fascism groups being kept well apart, some large groups of people, many of whom were thought to be outsiders from Birmingham and Manchester, gathered on the city centre streets.

Although the We Are Bradford event in Exchange Square continued to pass along peacefully, the Bradford Urban Garden, where the EDL started to gather from 1pm onwards, became the scene of several heated exchanges.

Strong police cordons kept EDL supporters within a strictly controlled area, and lines of officers moved the gathering crowds on Market Street and Manor Row back to the far side of the road from the Midland Hotel.

There was a crowd several hundred strong, exchanging chants and insults with the EDL. Some EDL members had their faces covered and carried banners.

The Midland Hotel was the scene of a wedding today between Paul Lister and Jessica Stanley, of Allerton. As they arrived at the hotel there was a huge cheer from the assembled crowds on the streets.

One of the couple’s friends said: "They didn’t know about this, obviously, when the wedding was booked, but at least they’ve got a good reception."

That was one of the few good-natured moments, though, as EDL and their opponents continued to bait each other.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Missiles have been thrown in the area around the Bradford Urban Garden, however, this has now been contained and police are utilising their resources to manage the current situation."

Eyewitnesses said most of the missiles were thrown out of the EDL enclosure.

City centre streets around the two protest sites were eerily quiet as shops closed for the day and shoppers stayed away.