Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is said to be considering banning the English Defence League after rioting in several English cities in the wake of the murder of three girls in Southport.

Sefton Council said its cleaning teams and neighbourhood support teams started their operation at 3am yesterday morning to clear the debris following the destruction of a mosque.

Merseyside Police issued a statement linking rioting in Southport which followed a vigil for the three girls killed in Monday's mass stabbing incident to the far-right EDL.

They said a large group of people believed to be supporters of the EDL had attacked a mosque near the murder scene amid online rumours that the suspect was a Muslim asylum seeker on an MI6 watch-list.

There was a growing police presence at Liverpool City Magistrates' Court this morning as the teenage suspect charged over Monday's stabbing attacks was due to arrive.

Riots also took place in Hartlepool and Manchester. The disturbances came just hours before Merseyside Police announced that a 17-year-old boy has been charged with murder following the death of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport.

Daniel Cowan, leader of Southend-on-Sea City Council, spoke out over 'hugely upsetting' scenes on Tuesday, when a suspected gang battle erupted at a beach party advertised on social media.

Eight people aged between 16 and 26 were arrested and seven weapons were seized as police responded to the violence.

More than 100 people were arrested in London on Wednesday night as a violent protest broke out in the wake of the Southport attack.

Flares were thrown towards the gates of Downing Street and some among the crowd threw cans and glass bottles.