Gloucester unfortunately becomes the latest English city to experience the riots and vandalism currently sweeping the country.

Last night, Gloucester unfortunately became the latest English city to experience the riots and vandalism currently sweeping throughout the country, with police coming under attack from around 60 people throwing stones and other missiles in Gloucester City centre.

The Barton Street area of Gloucester was particularly affected with three or four shop windows badly damaged, including a Coral bookmakers and a hairdressers. Several bins were also set fire to in the Barton area.

Violence flares outside the Coral Bookmakers in Barton Street, Gloucester.
Photograph © 2011 Delliss Photography

A fire was started deliberately in an empty building on Brunswick Road in the heart of Gloucester City Centre. The building was formerly used by the Gloucestershire College of Art and Technology until they vacated in 2007, and even before last night's fire, was scheduled for demolition shortly as part of the regeneration of Gloucester.

Luckily, no one appears to have been hurt in the disturbances here in Gloucester; no homes were damaged; and no shops were looted.

The disorder in the Barton area of Gloucester.
Photograph © 2011 Delliss Photography

At the time of posting this article, 12 people have been arrested by Gloucestershire Police in connection with the disturbances, and many of these are expected to appear before Stroud Magistrates in the morning.

The clean-up overnight appeared swift and well-organised, as a walk around Gloucester City centre this morning showed very few signs of the troubles, and traders and shop owners reported normal trade. Fire engines could still be seen on Brunswick Road as they continue to damp down the smouldering remains of the fire, and several television crews were filming news footage in Barton Street.

Police wearing helmets and protective clothing with shields, forming a line of defence.
Photograph © 2011 Delliss Photography

With Gloucester currently seeking investors to put millions of pounds into the continued regeneration of our wonderful City, the newspaper headlines and news footage that these events have generated are bound to cause damage to Gloucester. Our message to anyone looking to visit or invest in Gloucester, is that the City is a safe place, and a great place to live and work.

We look forward to you visiting Gloucester in the near future. Why not pay a visit during the Gloucester Tall Ships Festival 2011 at the end of this month, on the August Bank Holiday weekend.