Statement from Leader of Bolton Council, Cllr David Greenhalgh, following the Black Lives Matter protest in Bolton town centre
“The right to peaceful protest is an important part of every democracy but at a time when we continue to face real risks from the coronavirus our advice this weekend, which remains, is that people should find alternative methods to protest rather than attending mass gatherings.
"I am disappointed people chose to ignore that advice but I would like to thank the majority of the protestors on both sides who turned up today to demonstrate peacefully, and a huge thank you to the police who did an excellent job in controlling and handling the situation.
“As an authority, we reject all forms of discrimination. We took the precaution of protecting our war memorials in Bolton town centre and Westhoughton as we simply could not stand by and risk anyone trying to deface them, as we have seen in protests in other towns and cities. I am pleased that nobody attempted to do this."