Petrol bombs, fireworks, bricks and stones were thrown as an Orange parade passed through Rasharkin last night.

Trouble flared as three loyal order bands returned to the village after parading in nearby Ballymoney at about 6pm.

Three police officers sustained minor injuries when they were pelted with stones and masonry.

One of the petrol bombs set the front of an armoured Land Rover on fire.

Dozens of police in riot gear were deployed and one man was arrested.

The missiles were thrown by gangs of hooded nationalist youths who had gathered at the Carnfinton estate in the heart of the village.

The teens erected a steel barricade at one end of the estate to prevent anyone, including police, from entering the area. PSNI Land Rovers blocked the other exits and came under a steady attack.

As the Ballymaconnelly Sons of Conquerors band passed through the village, stones and golf balls were hurled from Rhencullen Park.

The trouble followed a spate of sectarian attacks in the area over the weekend. Graffiti was daubed on an Orange hall at Main Street in Rasharkin and an Ancient Order of Hibernians hall was broken into in the Rosnashane area outside Ballymoney. Last week, the Catholic church in Rasharkin was attacked with paint bombs.

Earlier in the day an Independent Loyal Orange Order parade passed off without major incident. A gang of youths behind a bar threw a few stones while some Orangemen retaliated giving one and two fingered gestures.

Speaking from the scene, a Sinn Fein representative, who declined to be named, said: “Ordinary residents don't want any of this at all. There has to be dialogue — this is a nationalist village and both sides have to come to an agreement.”

Other nationalist residents expressed disgust at the attacks and moved to distance themselves from the teenagers hurling chunks of wood at police.

One man, whose home faced onto the back of Carnfinton, shouted: “You are a disgrace to the Catholic faith.”

DUP MLA Mervyn Storey said: “This is no way for the Protestant minority to have to live in this village. It is a downright disgrace”