Protest at Derry civic parade

Colourful floats took to the streets of the city

Loyalists angry at the presence of the Sinn Fein mayor in the mainly Protestant Waterside area have protested at Londonderry's civic parade.

About 30 loyalists heckled the newly elected mayor, Cathal Crumley, as the parade set off from the Waterside.

Mr Crumley had earlier attended the judging of parade floats in the area and said he had been "encouraged" by the reception he had received.

There was a minor protest at parade

He said: "There was little difficulty, there was a minor protest and it was the only blight on the entire day and totally ineffectual.

"The people behind it endeavoured to wreck the parade and give this city a bad name and they failed."

A crowd of several thousand people greeted the parade when it arrived in Londonderry's city centre.

Earlier, the Democratic Unionist Party had called on Protestants living in the Waterside area of Londonderry to boycott the parade.

On Saturday, Mr Crumley said the civic parade should not be about politics and should be acknowledged as an event for the community.

In a statement ahead of the parade, he said he wanted to see today as a time of community involvement.

He appealed to what he termed "those progressive elements within unionism" to use their influence to ensure that today was remembered for community involvement, enjoyment and pride".

However, DUP councillor William Hay said: "I want to say very clearly that the mayor's parade is very welcome and it has always been very welcome in the Waterside by both communities. It will be in the future.

"But I am saying that this year the person leading the parade will not be welcome."

William Hay: "Mayor will not be welcome in Waterside"

Mr Crumley received backing from 21 of Derry City Council's 30 members.

The council, which has a majority of nationalist members also unanimously endorsed the re-election of the Ulster Unionist Deputy Mayor, Ernie Hamilton, for a second term in office.

Two years ago Derry had a Democratic Unionist mayor, Joe Millar, whom Sinn Fein supported in spite of his minority status on the council.

'Parade is not political'

The organisers of the parade have been critical of its politicisation.

Martin Mullan of the Junior Chamber of Commerce said: "This is a civil parade, it is not a mayor's parade and it is nothing to do with politics.

"It is for the people and to encourage people to come into our city.

"We have a great city and I would just say to everybody to come out and wave at the young people who have spent a lot of time building the floats up."