BATTLE OF THE DOYNE; Shots fired at PSNI by rioters in Belfast hotspotarmoured: Officers injured by yobs throwing missiles.

Byline: VICTORIA McMAHON

A GUNMAN opened fire on the PSNI last night as cops came under attack from republican rioters.

At least one shot was fired at police who let off 14 baton rounds as violence erupted at the notorious Ardoyne troublespot in North Belfast.

The violence escalated at around 6pm as an Orange Order march on its return leg from the Twelfth parades was forced through the tension-filled flashpoint.

Three mobile police water cannons had been drafted in earlier to beat back dozens of young yobs as the Orangemen made their return journey.

Rioters hid behind walls and post boxes as they tried to avoid the power of the water which forced their retreat down side streets.

Scores of teenage thugs hurled a deadly arsenal of petrol bombs, fireworks and stones at riot police as they came under attack in the mainly nationalist area.

A van and a car were hijacked by hoods and pushed towards police lines as planks of wood were hurled at the metal grills of vehicles. At one point masked hoods scaled on top of roofs at the Ardoyne shops.

The group used their vantage point to rain down petrol bombs, bricks, bottles and golfballs at the lines of riot police.

Seven officers were injured during the missile throwing, although their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

More than 1,000 Orangemen and their accompanying bandsmen eventually did march down the main road past Ardoyne to the beat of a lone drum - but only after riot police fought an hour-long street battle backed by the police helicopter.

In a separate incident youngsters were lucky to escape alive after they were discovered to be playing with a gun they found.

The firearm was handed in to the police and will be forensically tested.

And the dream of a peaceful Twelfth lay in tatters as sporadic violence flared at other locations of Orange marches yesterday.

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Alistair Finlay said it was disappointing "isolated outbreaks of violence had marred the day for all communities". He added: "Right across Northern Ireland there were hundreds of parades that passed off peacefully. However, it is very disappointing there were a minority of people... who showed total disregard for local communities.

"They displayed the worst possible face of Northern Ireland - a face of bigotry, sectarianism and intolerance that is not representative of the vast majority of people who have moved on and embraced a peaceful future."

Police were targeted as a gang of youths armed themselves with half a dozen petrol bombs, stones and masonry in the sectarian hotspot of Rasharkin, Co Antrim. Three officers were injured as they came under attack as tensions simmered over. They suffered minor injuries after stones and bricks were thrown. One man was arrested.

And officers also faced more missiles during a security operation in Armagh.

They were working with Army Technical Officers who had been drafted in to deal with a bomb left on Friary Road but the device exploded before it could be defused. There were no injuries.

Police said four people were arrested for public order offences and minor disturbances. Petrol bombs were thrown but there were no injuries.

Two cars were stolen as police and local representatives tried to restore calm.

Scuffles also broke out at The Diamond in Derry as Orangemen marched through the city earlier in the day.

One policeman was later injured as trouble once again sparked in the city. Police descended on the Butcher's Gate area after trouble kicked off there last night. Voice of the Mirror: Page 8They displayed worst possible face.. of bigotry, sectarianism and intolerance ASST CHIEF CONST YESTERDAY

CAPTION(S):

UNDER ATTACK Officer lies injured at Ardoyne shops UP IN FLAMES Hijacked van burns in Ardoyne, North Belfast, last night