Two men who threw bottles at the police during race riots in Burnley last summer have been jailed.

Lee Hall, 35, from Eliza Street, in Burnley, was jailed for two years at Preston Crown Court on Friday.

His co-defendant Wayne Heaton 30, from Guy Street, in Padiham, was sentenced to 18 months.

The court heard how both men were involved in scenes near the Turf pub where police came under fire from missiles.

Offensive weapon

Video footage of their behaviour during the disturbances in June 2001 was played in court.

The court heard that when police later visited Heaton's home they found a number of books and videos about football hooliganism and the Nazis.

Both men pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Hall also admitted having an offensive weapon.

Their barrister told the court the two men were not racially prejudiced and recognised that a prison sentence was inevitable.

Divided communities

Burnley was one of three towns in North west England hit by disturbances between gangs of Asian and white youths.

About thirty other people have already been sentenced for their involvement in the riots in which businesses and cars were attacked and objects thrown at the police.

Official reports into the disturbances in Bradford, Oldham and Burnley blamed racial segregation and "shockingly" divided communities.