No matter how may police officers we had had here last night it would have been very difficult to contain the large scale and widespread violence

David Boltwood PSNI

Superintendent David Boltwood said his officers faced a very difficult situation.

"We did have additional resources on duty in north Belfast last night but I think we need to get the whole thing in perspective," he said

"No matter how may police officers we had here last night it would have been very difficult to contain the large scale and widespread violence which our officers were confronted with."

Two police officers were seriously hurt, with one suffering a suspected fractured skull and another being treated for spinal injuries.

Up to 800 people were involved in the trouble, for which loyalists and republicans have blamed each other for starting.

Warning signs

DUP MP for the area Nigel Dodds called for increased security in the area.

"The early warning signs were not read early enough and I think that is one of the issues that has got to be looked at," he said.

"That is why we are looking for increased security in these areas to prevent trouble."

SDLP councillor Martin Morgan called for tougher action against those responsible.

"We would like to see arrests because the police have said individuals have been identified," he said.

"We also want to see prosecutions and that the due process of law is used in its full weight against these individuals because time after time it is the same people carrying out these wanton acts of violence."

Fireworks were thrown at police and troops

The police also put on display some of the weapons which had been used against them.

A Protestant man was shot in the leg and petrol bombs were thrown at police, who retaliated with an estimated 40 plastic baton rounds.

A police spokesman said there were reports of several houses coming under attack in the Whitewell and Cavehill areas.

Police and troops moved in to separate rival nationalist and loyalist factions in all the different areas, and themselves came under attack.

Petrol bombs and fireworks were thrown and one police officer was struck on the head by a breeze block thrown from the roof of a shop.

A police spokesman said there were also reports of a gun attack on police in the Ardoyne area.

A police car there was damaged but there were no reports of injuries.