Alison Blackstone, Lee Bottomley & Trystan Jones
Reporting from Leeds and Stoke-on-Trent

It’s a sunny day here in Leeds city centre, with
crowds gathering for two competing marches outside the impressive 19th century town hall and the nearby
art gallery.

A sea of police officers outside the art gallery are working as a barrier to keep apart two very separate sets of protestors. So far, they are doing that very successfully.

At the town hall, there’s a demonstration
organised by far-right groups billed as “against terrorism”. Some people are carrying St George’s flags.

A counter-protest by Stand Up to Racism is convening close by for a march around the city
centre, asking its supporters to “stop the far-right in Leeds”. They are waving banners proclaiming: “Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here.”

About 20 police officers are keeping the two groups about 20 metres apart.

Yesterday evening, the city centre was full of
people enjoying the warm evening – today it’s a very different atmosphere.

Image source, Alison Blackstone / BBC

In Stoke-on-Trent, about 400 people are protesting in the city centre, with others at a nearby counter-protest.

Police are standing between the rival groups and police dogs
have recently arrived.

So far it has been largely peaceful, with plenty of police
on the streets, but there is tension in the air.

Police have urged local people to stay indoors, but if they
have to go out, they should not go alone.

Image source, Lee Bottomley / BBC

Image source, Lee Bottomley / BBC