Lockdown England: Police attacked as revellers hit streets after pubs call last orders for final time

Fireworks thrown at officers at Birkenhead bonfire while fights broke out elsewhere

The final hours before lockdown came into effect across England saw police tackling violent scenes around the country as revelllers gathered for the last night out in what could be more than a month. 

Officers from Merseyside Police were attacked when responding to reports of a large gathering in the Woodchurch area of Birkenhead just before 9pm.

Fireworks were thrown at officers as they arrived to the suburban scene where hundreds of people had reportedly gathered for a bonfire. 

Chief inspector Gary O'Rourke said: "Not only did police and fire patrols come under attack on their arrival, which could've had catastrophic results, but there was a blatant disregard for Covid-19 restrictions, with hundreds of people in attendance drinking alcohol, mixing with other households and ignoring social distancing."

In Brighton, police have appealed for witnesses after a mass brawl involving around 20 people broke out around closing time at Montpelier Place in the city centre.

Two men were arrested and one man was taken to hospital with injuries, where he remains in a serious condition.

Cities across England saw wild scenes as crowds of revellers poured out on to the streets when pubs and bars closed their doors for the last time until at least 2 December.  

Police officers were kept busy as crowds lingered around city centres with some revellers heading to off-licences to keep the drink flowing.

In Leeds, officers were seen scuffling with a group of men in the street shortly after pubs closed. One man was detained and led away from the scene by police. 

While in Newcastle, several men were apprehended by police as people streamed out on to the streets at closing time. 

Others seemed to enjoy their last night out with no trouble, though many people had been forced to pull plans forward when new lockdown measures were announced on short notice.

 “It's everyone's last night so they're having a blow out before lockdown," Newcastle University student Suli Conway told Chronicle Live, “we’ve been in a few bars and they’ve been totally packed.”

“I'm celebrating my 21st birthday now, because why not?" she said.

Another woman celebrating her 21st, Ellie White in Bournemouth, said she had planned for a night out on Friday but had to move plans forward after the new lockdown was announced. 

“Me and my friends had made plans for my birthday for Friday but after Boris’s announcement on the weekend, we had to scrap it and make some last-minute reservations for tonight," Ms White told the Bournemouth Daily Echo.

“I wanted to have a house party but obviously that wasn’t possible. So, we have organised this little night out and brought along my close friends and it have been a really good night.”

A pub owner in Newcastle said lockdown had come at the “worst time” with Christmas right around the corner.

“It's taken us until around now to recover from the last lockdown and for people to feel comfortable coming back for the government to lock us down again,” Oliver Knox, who owns The Green Man in Newcastle told Chronicle Live.

“I'm expecting the lockdown to go on beyond December 2. It's hit us at pretty much the worst possible time of the year, but we've got to just get on with it,” he added.