Arrests follow bonfire violence

Police were attacked with petrol bombs during disturbances

Three men have been arrested following overnight disturbances in County Antrim.

Trouble flared in the mainly nationalist Dunclug estate in Ballymena following a bonfire to mark the Feast of the Assumption in the early hours of Sunday.

Police vehicles came under attack from a crowd throwing petrol bombs, stones and bottles and two men were arrested.

In the Doury road area of the town, two derelict houses were set on fire.

Fire crews had to withdraw from the burning buildings in Regents Park after they also came under attack.

We believe the community deserves a better service and this is doing the community out of proper fire cover Kieron Barr Sation officer

The blaze was left to burn itself out.

Station Officer Kieron Barr said firefighters had no choice but to leave.

"The crews got out of the machines to try to assess the situation and it was then we came under attack," he said.

"The first thing to consider was the safety of the crew and to make sure that the appliances were not too badly damaged, so we got back into the appliances and withdrew to a safe distance and waited on the arrival of the police.

"We believe the community deserves a better service and this is doing the community out of proper fire cover."

Meanwhile, a man has been taken to hospital after disturbances in the Orkney drive area of the Ballykeel estate.

He is in a stable condition.

A crowd throwing stones and bottles attacked police and one man was arrested.