'The great British public want some resolution on this issue', says the Tory group leader on Plymouth City Council

PLYMOUTH'S Tory leader has condemned the violence which this week rocked the city - and says there now needs to be a discussion about immigration in a bid to find out what led to the riot.

Cllr Andy Lugger praised the police, city council and other "frontline services" which dealt with what he called the "most unsavoury incident in the city's history".

He called the actions of those who brought violence and destruction to the city's streets "abhorrent". Cllr Lugger said the inquest into the events of Monday night must now look at why it happened and said: "What now needs to be explored is the motivation behind the protests." Four men have already been jailed following hours of violent disorder as a group containing people described by some as "far right" confronted police and antiracism demonstrators in the city centre.

Police were assaulted, threatened and spat at, members of the public were attacked, missiles were thrown, and shops were damaged.