Abandoned police riot gear was strewn across the ground close to the spot where a police Matrix van was set on fire.
The area around the Suites Hotel, Kirkby, was quiet this morning following the scenes last night in Knowsley. Merseyside Police was called to Ribblers Lane at around 6.30pm to what they said was initially a "peaceful protest and counter protest".
But the events changed quickly when missiles were thrown and people started to cause damage. Footage sent to the ECHO showed people taking what appeared to be sledgehammers to a police vehicle. A police riot van, parked near the protests, was vandalised with graffiti before it was then set on fire.
