This is the shocking moment a female police officer was knocked to the ground when violence broke out during an English Defence League (EDL) march.
The PCSO was sent sprawling onto the pavement while officers struggled to keep members of the far right group away from rival protesters.
The EDL held a rally in the centre of Worcester on Saturday afternoon to protest against plans to build a £3 million mosque in the city.
Three people were arrested and two police officers were injured, as well as an EDL supporter, during the 90-minute disorder.
Footage shows the moment violence broke out as police tried to control the route the EDL march was taking down Broad Street in the city centre.
A female police officer was knocked to the ground as violence erupted during an EDL march
The PCSO was sent sprawling onto the pavement while officers struggled to contain the crowd
A police officer calls for assistance to his PCSO colleague, who was injured during the skirmish
Scores of police formed a barrier in Broad Street between English Defence League supporters and approximately 200 vocal counter-protesters comprising students, trade union members, councillors and members of the local Muslim community.
Shockingly, the fighting broke out just yards away from shoppers, including families with young children.
Mum-of-two Melanie Yates, 30, said: ‘I had my two daughters with me and we went into town, because it was the first day of the summer holidays and I was going to treat them to a toy.
‘I knew the EDL was going to hold a march, but the police statements all said it was going to be peaceful. When we got to Broad Street it was like a warzone.
‘There were bottles and cans being chucked everywhere. At one point I thought it was going to turn into a riot, because the police looked overwhelmed.
‘I took my kids by the hand and just ran. They were in tears when we got home.’
EDL supporters gathered to protest against the building of a £3million mosque in Worcester
Scores of police tried to keep EDL marchers away from around 200 vocal counter-protesters
Donning England flags and Union Jacks, the EDL marchers walked along Broad Street
Police assured the public the EDL march would be ‘peaceful’ but soon turned into disorder
Onlookers claim they narrowly avoided being hurt as violence erupted between the groups
Dad Jason Eades, 40, said he narrowly avoided being hurt when he walked out of a café during the fracas.
He said: ‘I walked out the baguette shop and suddenly there were dozens of people screaming and shouting.
‘It was pretty frightening and there were lots of families and old people who were caught in the middle of it all.
The EDL supporters held up banners and shouted at their rivals during Saturday’s march
‘I think the police should have done more to stop the violence coming so close to shoppers who frankly had nothing to do with it.’
Superintendent Damian Pettit, of West Mercia Police, said: ‘Three people were arrested for minor public order offences.
‘Two police officers were injured during the event, but thankfully neither is thought to be seriously hurt.
‘There were reports of items being thrown into the EDL group and this is now being investigated.
‘While a small minority of people were more confrontational in their attitude than we wanted, this was a successful operation that saw the majority of people able to participate in peaceful protest and our communities and businesses protected from harm.
‘I would like to thank the communities of Worcester for their co-operation and patience during our operation to police the demonstrations that took place in the city centre.’
The counter-protest included students, trade unionists and local Muslim community members
Police formed a barrier to try and keep the two opposing sides away from one another
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