Ballymena, Northern Ireland, has endured a third night of rioting by racist thugs targeting immigrants, with homes, stores and cars destroyed.

Rioters clashed with police in Ballymena, and masked groups set fire to a recreation center in Larne, where families had been given temporary shelter.

PORTADOWN, Northern Ireland (Reuters) -Rioters attacked police with petrol bombs, rocks and fireworks in the Northern Irish town of Portadown on Thursday, a Reuters witness said, as a fourth night of anti-immigrant violence moved to a different part of the British-run province.