POLICE and Bolton Council have put plans in place to manage a rally by a farright extremist group on Saturday.

A group called the North West Infidels has organised a protest in Bolton on Saturday afternoon.

Officers will direct protesters to Churchgate, while a counter protest from Unite Against Fascism (UAF) will take place close to Le Mans Crescent.

Police and the council met with traders in Churchgate yesterday and were speaking with businesses again today.

They have been advised about what is likely to happen on Saturday, but have not been told to close.

The group has told police they do not want confrontation.

UAF will meet close to Le Mans Crescent and will then disperse around the town to hand out leaflets.

Neither group will be allowed to protest in Victoria Square, where an international food and craft market is taking place, and specialist officers will police the Churchgate rally.

Chief Supt David Hull said: “There is already an event in Victoria Square, which is good for the social and economic life of the town and it would be entirely disproportionate for that event to be disrupted, when the protest can be carried out somewhere else.”

Police said they have had “constructive dialogue” with UAF, which has told them they want to carry out a peaceful protest.

A council spokesman said: “It is very much business as usual in Bolton town centre.

“No businesses will close, although it will of course affect a small number of traders in Churchgate.

“The international market will still go ahead and we will keep businesses informed.

“We are working with the police to support their operation.”

The North West Infidels describe themselves as a group of right-wing nationalists against the Islamic takeover of parts of the UK, immigration and multiculturalism.

The protest will bring back echoes of the huge English Defence League rally in Bolton two years ago.

Police and the council believe this rally will be on a much smaller scale with just 150 to 200 people expected from each group.