Protesters from the English Defence League were today gathering in Wellington  – despite a Home Office ban preventing them from marching through the town.

Shops are boarded up throughout the town centre, and dozens of police officers are on duty for the protest, which is due to take place in Church Street. About 1,000 people are expected.

A counter ‘unity’ demonstration is being held at the Nailor’s Row car park to coincide with the EDL protest.

Updates

15.01: West Mercia Police tweet: “Residents and business owners will be pleased to hear that crowds have dispersed and Wellington Town Centre is now returning to normal.”

15.00: West Mercia Police issue a statement:

“An assembly at Wellington today involving supporters of the English Defence League (EDL) is in its final stages and those attending have already started to disperse.

“An estimated 300 to 350 EDL supporters gathered to listen to speeches in Church Street, Wellington, during the morning and early afternoon, while another 200 to 250 have attended a ‘unity rally’ on the Nailor’s Row Car Park. Both groups were accompanied by police to their respective assembly sites.

“The crowds were largely good natured and there were only sporadic and isolated incidents of disorder in various parts of the town which were quickly dealt with by police. Two people were arrested this morning en route to Telford and three in various parts of Wellington for public order offences and breach of bail.

“There are large numbers of police on the streets and there have been no reports so far of any damage being caused to buildings or other property.”

15.00: Counter-demonstration is breaking up and the crowds are dispersing.

14.50: Shropshire Star reporter talks to Kevin Carroll, of the EDL. He said: “We are delighted. It’s a peaceful demonstration. We have got our voices across.”

14.48: Shropshire Star reporter says: The protest site on Church Street is now clear. The police are also moving away.

14.38: West Mercia Police tweet: EDL supporters are now back on their coaches and being escoreted from the county by police.

14.36: counter demonstators walking back to the car park after a small rally outside the mosque. A small firework was let off, but our reporter was unable to say where it came from.

14.30: West Mercia Police tweet: The EDL speeches have finished and their assembly is beginning to disperse.

14.21: West Mercia Police tweet: “EDL Assembly is in progress at the moment and our policing operation is still on schedule and as planned.”

14.20: Hundreds counter-demonstrators are leaving the car park and walking up to the Wellington Mosque. Police have taken placards off some counter-demonstrators. They say it is not a march so they are not allowed placards.

One counter protester was also told to remove a facemask.

14.16: West Mercia Police tweet: “Following on from the very minor incidence of disorder earlier, we have made five arrests. All is now calm.”

14.15: The EDL protest is beginning to end and a speaker is directing people to the exits.

14.10: Helicopter flies overhead

14.08: Counter demonstration is holding a minute’s silence for those killed in the riots. Members are also handing out carnations to people in the crowd.

14.03: EDL members collecting rubbish, including empty cans.

14.02 From West Mercia Police Twitter feed: . Larger numbers of demonstrators now in the town. Some very minor incidents of disorder but all is now calm

14.01: Leo Fisher, Telford Unions’ deputy branch secretary, tells the counter-demonstation: “We want to send out the message that the EDL do not speak for Telford or represent Telford. Our message is we do not want them here and we do not want them  spreading their racist, fascist poison.”

Another speaker, who told the crowd he was a Muslim,  urged people to respect the right to protest and called for peace.”

14.00: No new arrivals. Gathering is playing drum and bass music. People are standing about.

13.53: Shropshire Star reporter says: The counter protest is taking place at Old Bakery Row in Wellington. Hundreds have gathered to hear speakers against the EDL. They are told that the EDL is not welcome in Telford. Some have placards accusing the EDL of racism. The atmosphere is peaceful.

13.50: Shropshire Star reporter says police estimate 300 people at the protest.

13.46: EDL protester says five coaches have yet to arrive

13.37: Speeches finish. Music being played.

13:35: Further to reports of bottles being thrown, Shropshire Star reporter says: Cans were thrown during speeches by Kevin Carroll. Offenders were ejected from the area by members of the EDL.

13.34: Member of the public Tweets: Being moved back to by Kwik-Fit.

13.28: Resident living nearby Tweets: “Protest is really loud. I’m pretty scared.”

13.25: Bencoates130776 Tweets: “Just drove past counter protest. Very few people there.”

13.24: Andy J Smith Tweets: “EDL members just tried to open a dog van!”

13.20: A minute of silence for the four men killed during ther riots.

13.16: Andy J Smith, via Twitter: Calm returning

13.15: Andy J Smith, via Twitter: Bottles thrown and dogs out.

13.10: Kevin Carroll, speaker, talks about Tariq Jahan, who lost his son Haroon, 21,  and his friends, brothers Shazad Ali, 30, and Abdul Musavir, 31, after being hit by a car in Dudley Road, Winson Green, in the early hours of Wednesday. He calls Mr Jahan a “brave man who lost his son and two of his friends who were run over by some murdering scumbags. He lost them in the most horrific circumstances. It’s a tragic, terrible incident and our hearts go out to their families. Whatever our beliefs, that man has lost his son. It’s absolutely horrific. He lost his son and he still called for calm. What a great man and a great Muslim.”

Speaking about the riots in London, he said: “Today, most importantly, we are going to show them how to do it. If you have a problem with your country, you must go down the right channels. We are going to use democracy.

“No one is attacking the police or breaking windows. We are not scum.”

13:00. Shropshire Star reporters say: More people have begun to congregate in Church Street. They are playing music ahead of speeches. There is a lot of drinking. Some of the protesters have brought dogs and children. Those taking part say their protest is peaceful. One said: “The culture of fear is drummed up by the police and the media.”

12.40: Shropshire Star reporters say: Just over 100 people are outside St Patrick’s Church. Some have placed flags on metal fences erected around the site by Telford & Wrekin Council staff . Some are chanting EDL slogans. About 30 police are in the area, with more throughout the town centre. About 1,000 people expected.

12:25: Our policing operation is going to plan in Wellington, say West Mercia police on Twitter. Demonstrators are beginning to gather but remain peaceful.