The Prime Minister has branded the riots and disorder in towns across England as “Far-right thuggery”.

In a televised statement, Keir Starmer said there is no justification for what has been seen on streets in a number of English areas.

He added: “This violent mob do not represent our country and we will bring them to justice.

Starmer said: “If you target people because of the colour of their skin that is far right.”

The Prime Minister spoke after a mob attacked police and stormed into a hotel in Rotherham, believed to be housing asylum seekers.

Police were pelted with bricks and other objects and the hotel windows smashed and fires started.

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In other cities and towns, police have been attacked, shops looted and a library set alight in days of violence, including a library set alight in Liverpool.

Starmer said: “There is no justification for taking this action."

The prime minister said people in this country have a right to be safe, adding “and yet we've seen Muslim communities targeted, Nazi salutes in the street".

He said: "I won't shy away from calling it what it is, far-right thuggery."

Rishi Sunak, leader of the Conservatives, and former Prime Minister, said: "The shocking scenes we’re seeing on the streets of Britain have nothing to do with the tragedy in Southport.

"This is violent, criminal behaviour that has no place in our society. The police have our full support to deal with these criminals swiftly and they must face the full weight of the law."

Protests also took place in Bolton, Hull and Middlesbrough with some turning violent.

In Bolton police issued a dispersal notice.

Violence had broken out in several places after the killing of three girls in Southport in Merseyside at a dance class, last Monday.

Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9, died after the attack on Monday.

The 17-year-old male accused of murdering the three girls was named as Axel Rudakubana after reporting restrictions preventing him from being identified were lifted by a judge.

Last week, amid reports of planned protests in Glasgow next month, politicians said they were not welcome in the city.

Susan Aitken SNP Leader of Glasgow City Council said the far right was not welcome in Glasgow.

Anas Sarwar, Scttish Labour leader, said Glasgow had rejected the far right before and would do so again.