Police make further arrests as Thetford disorder continues

Police make an arrest in Thetford on Thursday night as the market town braced itself for a third night of unrest

More arrests have been made over disorder linked to anti-immigration protests that saw crowds attempt to storm the homes of suspected asylum seekers and a police officer "seriously bitten".

Asylum seekers were removed from properties in Thetford yesterday for their own safety, Norfolk Police said.

Two men in their 40s were arrested as protests in the market town continued for a third night, bringing the total number held to five.

Protesters attempted to enter homes where they believed asylum seekers were living on Tuesday and Wednesday night, when officers were also "subjected to significant aggression".

Witnesses reported rocks and eggs being thrown and chants of "we want them out" during protests on Clover Way involving up to 200 people on Wednesday night.

A male officer was struck with a rock and a female officer was seriously bitten, breaking the skin, the force said.

Dozens of police officers were stationed in Thetford for a third night as anti-immigration protests continue

The disorder comes amid local disquiet over proposals to convert a former military base just over the border in Suffolk, RAF Barnham, into asylum seeker accommodation for up to 3,750 people.

Norfolk's chief constable Paul Sanford urged the public not to make assumptions and said Thetford residents were "concerned for their own safety".

"This is people's lives we're talking about," he told the BBC. "This is human beings we're talking about and we ask the public that are protesting just to think about that for a moment."

People gathered in Thetford on Thursday for a third night of protests

Residents who did not want to be named have told the BBC about growing disquiet over the issue of housing.

There is resentment at the perception that asylum seekers are getting free accommodation in an area where young people are struggling to get their own homes.

There are also concerns about the perceived safety of women and girls, specifically around single adult men arriving and living in houses in multiple occupation (HMO).

People explained they had been "kept in the dark" and said they have not been consulted on the issue.

The average cost of housing an asylum seeker for one night in private-rented accommodation is £23.25, and £144 in a hotel - while subsistence payments range from £9.95 to £49.18 for each person per week.

There was a heavy police presence in the residential area of Canterbury Way on Thursday night.

Policing powers were stepped up, with face cov