Investigations are now underway to clamp down on those involved in violent clashes in north Belfast.

20 police officers were injured - some of them seriously - when they came under attack from loyalists at the contentious flashpoint last night.

One inspector's ear was severed and others badly hurt.

Elsewhere a man was arrested for attempted murder, after a 16-year-old girl was struck by a car.

The incident happened in the Ardoyne area of the city.

The 16-year-old is now in a stable condition in hospital, where she is being treated for a broken pelvis.

Speaking today, assistant Chief Constable Stephen Martin says those involved in last night's trouble will be brought before the courts:

First Minister Peter Robinson said attacks on the police as they go about their duty cannot be justified.

"Such behaviour is wrong and will be condemned by all right thinking people. The PSNI is tasked with upholding the rule of law and it is vital that those involved in such riotous activity cease and are held accountable. They do a massive disservice to the wider cause they claim to support," he said.

Police were pelted with bricks, bolts and bottles after preventing loyalists from marching from the unionist Woodvale area toward the nationalist Ardoyne area of the city.

Water cannon were deployed to try and quell the unrest, which came after a day of largely peaceful loyal order parades across Northern Ireland.

The annual parades mark the victory of Protestant King William of Orange over Roman Catholic King James at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.

The Orange Order has condemned those who rioted and appealed for calm, calling their actions "not only counter-productive but also plain wrong".