Police give estate '24/7 cover'

Scorch damage was caused to one of the homes

The head of the police in Londonderry has said they will provide a constant policing presence "for a short time" at two of the main interfaces in Derry.

Chief Superintendent Richard Russell was responding to concerns by Protestants in Irish Street.

Several hundred people from the area blocked Dungiven Road on Monday night in protest at attacks on homes.

Mr Russell said 24/7 policing will also be provided at the flashpoint between the Bogside and the Fountain estates.

Speaking before the development, the DUP's Gregory Campbell said he would highlight the area's problems with Prime Minister Tony Blair when they meet in the next ten days.

He said Protestants in the area need constant police protection immediately.

"There needs to be 24/7 coverage to give people the satisfaction and confidence that they are not going to be burnt alive in their beds; that they are not going to have their children intimidated, their windows broken and their homes torched," he said.

The protest followed an attack on two homes in the estate by nationalist youths at the weekend.

Two petrol bombs were thrown at two homes in the mainly Protestant estate.

The city's Sinn Fein Mayor, Lynn Fleming, condemned the attacks.