Residents pull together to clean after 'thugs' descend on streets
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk
People from Southport have today been cleaning the streets after a "major incident" was declared

Residents are today cleaning up in the aftermath of a protest in Southport. North West Ambulance Service confirmed paramedics treated 39 police officers after violent scenes broke out during a protest on St Luke’s Road in Southport on Tuesday, July 30.

The ambulance service confirmed 27 officers were taken to hospital and 12 were treated and discharged at scene. It was declared as a “major incident” by emergency services.

…

Damage was also caused to a local convenience store and wheelie bins were set on fire, police said. Three police dogs have also been injured. Police Dogs Zoe and Ike have sustained leg injuries from bricks thrown at them. A third dog, PD Quga, also suffered burns to her back leg.

Photos and video seen by the ECHO showed crowds gathered around police riot vans on St Luke’s Road. A police van was also seen up in flames. Following the scenes, residents living on the road and the surrounding area have come out in force to help with the clean up.

…

Norman Wallis, owner of Southport Pleasureland, is helping clear the rubble. He told the ECHO: "We’re all coming together to try and help the people in Sussex Road and the area to clean up for the mess that was made by all those people, those thugs, that came into their street.

“They just totally destroyed the street, pulled the walls down, pulled fences down, set cars on fire, just terrible. We’re all coming together to just try and help as a community.”

…

Cathy McGrath has been out on the clean up since 7.15am this morning. She said that the town should be grieving. Speaking to the ECHO, she said: "I feel just angry and upset really. I went to the vigil last night and it was beautiful for the girls and the children and then you see last night.

“Those people don’t represent the community, these people represent the community. They’ve spoilt it really and that’s why I have come out today.”

Fundraising: