Police officers injured during disorder in Ardoyne in north Belfast

Nine police officers have been injured dealing with trouble following the passing of a Protestant parade through the Catholic Ardoyne area in north Belfast.

Their injuries are not believed to be serious.

Petrol bombs and bricks have been thrown at police by nationalists and loyalists.

Police have responded by using water cannons to contain the crowds. Six plastic bullets have been fired.

Six men have been charged in connection with public order offences in the Broadway area of Belfast on

There have been two arrests although police expect more to follow.

Three cars have also been hijacked and two of them pushed at police. At least one of them has been set alight.

Police are continuing to deal with "significant disorder" in the nationalist Brompton Park and Balhom Road areas in north Belfast.

A short distance away police were attacked with bricks and bottles thrown by loyalists on the Crumlin Road near the junction with Hesketh Road.

On the other side of the Ardoyne flashpoint zone at Twaddell Avenue, bricks and bottles were also thrown at police by loyalists.

The senior police officer in charge of the security operation in north Belfast, Assistant Chief Constable Will Kerr urged "individuals and communities" affected to respond to developing events in a "calm and responsible manner".

"Violence has serious and unwanted consequences for us all and we will robustly investigate all incidents of disorder," he said.

BBC Northern Ireland reporter, Julian O'Neill witnessed some of the trouble.

"The smell of smoke hangs heavy in the air as one of three cars hijacked earlier burns in front of a row of police water cannon vehicles," he said.

"Several petrol bombs have rained down on riot police. I saw one bounce off the Perspex shield of one officer and temporarily engulf two others in flames, but mostly it has been bricks and fireworks.

"I've also noticed laser pens being aimed in the direction of police lines."

Some nationalists object to the parade which marks William III's victory at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.

Earlier, 24 Orange Order marchers completed a parade past the area.

The trouble broke out after Protestant Orangemen, who are members of north Belfast lodges, walked past a row of shops in the Catholic area.

Thousands of Orangemen, often accompanied by flute bands, stage a major demonstration through Belfast every year.

They weave through the city's streets to gather in a field where they hear religious addresses.

Most parades pass off without incident, but as each branch - or individual lodge separates from the main group to return to their own areas in the evening, there can be trouble.

A protest by Catholic residents to show their opposition to the Orangemen walking through the area was held along with a parade by the group Greater Ardoyne Residents Coalition (GARC).

"The Greater Ardoyne Residents Coalition parade was delayed at Estoril Park by agreement due to a public safety issue caused by the significant disorder and a burning vehicle," said ACC Kerr

"Once this was cleared, the GARC parade continued on to the Crumlin Road.

"Missiles were thrown from both sides as the GARC parade passed the Ardoyne Shop fronts but both the parade and the protest dispersed.

"Police would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the positive efforts of all those parading, protesting and marshalling on Thursday."

Earlier, police said the Orange Order parade had passed "peacefully" and "in accordance with the Parades Commission determination".

The representatives of three Orange lodges, carrying three banners, were escorted by riot police as they walked past Ardoyne.

The marchers were completing a controversial parade within a deadline set by the Parades Commission.

North Belfast Orangemen completed a token march past the Ardoyne shops

There was some shouting from nationalist protestors as the small group of marchers went past.

Hundreds of loyalists were waiting to welcome them when they had passed the contentious area.

The marchers had been taken to north Belfast by bus to meet the 16:00 BST deadline.

Orangemen say it was a peaceful solution to allow them to complete their return parade from the main celebrations to their Orange halls in north Belfast.

In Londonderry, petrol bombs have been thrown in the Westland Street area and at the city's walls. A car was set alight in Fahan Street.

Police are advising the public to avoid the Bogside area.

Meanwhile in the mainly nationalist village of Crumlin, in County Antrim, a Twelfth of July Orange parade complied with a Parades Commission ruling and all lodges except the local ones took an alternative route to a dispersal point.

Only the nine local district lodges and five bands are taking the full return route back through the village.

Elsewhere, police in Craigavon advised motorists to avoid the Drumbeg estate area following the hijacking of a bus.

All bus services between Lurgan and Craigavon were diverted past all estates.

Six men have been charged in connection with public order offences in the Broadway area of Belfast on Wednesday evening.

They are due to appear in court on Friday.