Minister wants PSNI rioting talks

Up to 200 people were involved in the rioting

An attack on police officers in a Bangor housing estate was "appalling", the social development minister has said.

Margaret Ritchie's department looks after funding for a £1m project aimed at moving the UDA away from violence.

Chief Constable Hugh Orde said he believed the UDA played a role in the Kilcooley trouble, and he thought they shouldn't receive more money.

Ms Ritchie said she wanted to meet PSNI officials to hear their assessment.

"Guns have no place in the peaceful society we are trying to create," she said.

If you want my personal opinion, I wouldn't give them 50 pence Sir Hugh Orde PSNI chief constable

"I am very concerned at reports of UDA involvement in these serious disturbances."

Six people were struck with baton rounds during the violence on Wednesday.

Officers also came under attack from petrol bombs, stones and fireworks. A number of cars were also set alight.

One of the cars set alight during the violence

The disturbances followed searches linked to terrorist-related crime. Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde said he had evidence that the loyalist paramilitary group was behind the disturbances.

"If that was value for money, then the people of Kilcooley got very poor value for their money," said Sir Hugh.

"If you want my personal opinion, I wouldn't give them 50 pence."

North Down MP Lady Sylvia Hermon said: "I don't think anything at all will justify opening fire on police officers and for so-called loyalists to attack police officers is in my mind just a completely non-acceptable thing to do."

There were no reports of any serious injuries following the violence, which at one stage involved up to 200 people.