TWO separate protests held in Bolton town centre were largely troublefree.

About 50 members from the North West Infidels, and 100 members of Unite Against Fascism, staged demonstrations in Churchgate on Saturday afternoon.

The two groups chanted and swore at each other from inside separate pens, while around 100 police officers were on duty in the town centre ready to deal with any trouble.

Two men were arrested for breach of the peace, but the protests ended peacefully after about two hours.

Both groups had dispersed by 2.30pm, and the road was soon back to normal.

Carl Brown, of the North West Infidels, explained why they were holding the demonstration and said they were nothing to do with the English Defence League. He said: “We are here to highlight to the people in Bolton that there are paedophile gangs in Greater Manchester. There are lots of issues in this country, we are unable to deal with foreign nationals and we let them in and they take state benefits. We do not just target Muslim gangs, it is all types of people.”

Paul Jenkins, regional organiser for the Unite Against Fascism North West, said: “We are here to show that racism and fascism and groups like the North West Infidels, the BNP and the English Defence League (EDL) are not welcome here in Bolton, or anywhere else. Bolton is a proud and multicultural diverse place and we don’t need fascists like the NWI coming here and trying to create problems and divide the community.

“We have had an excellent response from the general public, the majority of people are against racism and they don’t want the NWI here. We are going to walk through the streets with our banners and show people that we are against racism.

Today is a victory for us. ”

Spectators were moved on by the police.

Colin Liptrot, who works at Booths Music, said: “It has caused a disruption to the day. I think it is ridiculous that they use Churchgate for things like this, but when we try to put on events here the council makes it so difficult for us.”

Chief Superintendent David Hull, head of Bolton police, said: “I would like to thank the community and local business in the town centre for their support, cooperation and understanding.

GMP respects everyone’s right to a protest, but at the same time we have to balance this with the concerns of people in our local communities.

“We, Bolton Council and local community groups have worked hard over the past few days to ensure the protest took place with minimum disruption to members of the public and the demonstrators acted in a responsible manner.”

A Bolton Council spokesman added: “The council liaised in advance with key community representatives, shopkeepers, businesses, stall-holders and licencees across the town to ensure we reached as many people as possible who could be directly affected by the event.

“Chief executive Sean Harriss thanks everyone for their co-operation.”