A former soldier led an English Defence League (EDL) wreath-laying ceremony which caused clashes with anti-fascism protestors.

Witham resident Mark Dunbar, a regional organiser of the EDL, laid a wreath in memory of Drummer Lee Rigby at Colchester’s war memorial on Saturday afternoon.

But Mr Dunbar was only able to lay the wreath after a three-hour stand-off between 60 EDL members and about 150 protestors who blocked the route to the memorial.

Mr Dunbar, who was appointed as Witham organiser for another far-right group, the British Freedom Party, in 2011, said: “This is meant to be a peaceful and respectful way to show our respect."