I was in Manchester city centre last Saturday. There were rather a lot of shaven-headed 'knuckle-draggers' around (mostly spilling out of pubs). There were also lots of (what I think) were rugby fans and loads of other people (it was very crowded).

Like a complete idiot I wandered into Piccadilly, to get the bus home, at about 4:00 pm. Up until then all I had seen was an unusual number of the aforementioned 'knuckle-draggers' and a police helicopter hovering - I had seen no signs of any demo. The demo was, of course, in Piccadilly Gardens. I caught glimpses of the demo through the massed ranks of GMP's finest. I got to Portland St. where they had formed a line across the road. They were letting people out, but not in (I heard a copper scream, "go away!" at a rather inocuous looking youth). They didn't even glance at me - good job I wasn't wearing the jackboots!