Parade 'passes without incident'

Apprentice Boys marchers passed the Ardoyne shops

The Apprentice Boys parade close to a nationalist area in north Belfast has passed off without incident.

Police were out in fewer numbers than previous years to monitor the marchers as the parade passed Ardoyne shops.

Police said the peaceful parade was a result of the work of people in the area.

PSNI Superintendent Gary White said: "All the people of this area in north Belfast are to be commended on the work undertaken before this parade."

This had ensured its peaceful passage, he said.

"We had the lowest police presence here for many years and this reflects the work undertaken by both communities."

Supt White, the PSNI's operations manager for north Belfast, said he would like to see all events in the area policed in such a manner in future.

In the past, protests over some Protestant loyal order parades in the area have led to violence.

In accordance with a Parades Commission ruling, no music was played as it passed the contentious area.

Meanwhile, on the Ormeau Road in south Belfast, 10 Apprentice Boys belonging to the Belfast Walker Club were bussed past the mainly nationalist lower Ormeau Road and into the city centre.