Yvette Cooper thanks police as major far-right riots fail to materialise

Thousands took to the streets to take part in anti-racism protests in London, Brighton, Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, Newcastle and Sheffield

The home secretary, Yvette Cooper, thanked police officers working tonight to protect and support local communities" after large-scale far-right riots failed to materialise, while thousands of anti-racism protesters took to the streets in several English cities on Wednesday to oppose days of far-right violence.

In many towns and cities shops were boarded up over fears of further rioting after a week of violent disorder which started in Southport on 30 July, but in most places, planned anti-immigration protests did not take place.