Hundreds of people from Oldham gathered on a street that had been selected as a 'target' by far-right rioters tonight.

As a list of 39 premises were warned about a potential protest from the far-right tonight ( August 7), speculation swirled online and through the community throughout the day.

However, Greater Manchester Police and the local authority were adamant there was no threat coming Oldham's way and while they warned against the spread of "misinformation", they also called for calm.

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The force said it has the resources and the response at the ready should it be needed.

GMP's statement continued: "Our advice to communities is to remain calm and to try to go about your everyday life.

"GMP continues to monitor the intelligence to ensure we can respond effectively to any incidents of disorder. And, if we believe there needs to be specific information about anything emerging we will tell people and offer advice."

However, a law firm on Ellen Street in Chadderton that deals with visa applications featured on the rumoured target list.

The warning prompted the adjacent Aldi supermarket on the street to board up its windows while a nearby restaurant, Bank Grill, decided to close entirely for the night.

By 8pm, a trickle of peaceful counter-protesters had started to gather which then turned to dozens and quickly around 150.

Several GMP police vans were spotted stationed around the area, monitoring the situation and engaging with the community.

A woman who said she was a pacifist was handing out water bottles while an organisation, which did not want to be named, held a banner reading: "Solidarity against the far right".

While a lot of people were hesitant to speak to the press, one counter-protester said: “It is absolutely amazing to see the people of Oldham come out in support against the far right.”

Another counter-protester said: “There has been no violence, at end of the day, this is our local area no one is going to shout or anything like that - it’s about solidarity”.

Oldham Council leader Arooj Shah attended and praised a team of volunteers who she said had been busy protecting the community and making sure Oldham’s response to threats was solidarity not violence.

She was keen to stress however that she believed some organised counter-protesters were 'unhelpful', adding: "It might come with well intent but it’s not fair on our community here, to come to Oldham where we are promoting and spreading peace.

“We do not need anyone to put our community in such a position because then it’s our community that has to pick up the pieces.

"Oldham is a place of peace.

"There’s been so much going on across the country and I want to say thanks to GMP who have done a sterling job to protect us in the face of unrest [across the region] and we just need to let them get on with it.”

Got a story? Email me Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk