‘I live in latest UK town smashed up by rioters and these thugs don’t speak for us’

Angry, bewildered but mostly just sad.

Those are my overwhelming feelings as I try to understand the actions of a band of mindless idiots who have tonight smashed up my hometown of Middlesbrough. As anarchy on the streets of the UK rages on, this proud town in Teesside is the latest victim.

I watched on as sinister social media users seemed to take a sick delight in capturing the heinous chaos that was unfolding in our town centre as yobs burnt out cars, smashed windows, and left our people cowering and petrified.

As a journalist, it’s my job to report on what’s happening and to share it more widely in a factual way. And when it comes to Middlesbrough - a place I adore - I knew I must be there to detail the events of the evening with fellow residents even in this very dark hour.

I arrived only moments after the carnage unfolded to what felt dystopian and desolate. No protestors remained, just their senseless destruction.

Smashed windows, piles of bricks, an abandoned banner scrawled with an angry message all whilst police sirens screamed and a helicopter circled overhead.

I passed a burnt out car, flickering with flames, and so very many windows that had been stoved in with hammers.

I spoke to several people who were left reeling at what had happened to their homes. One whose window was smashed in was an army vet who couldn’t understand what he’d done to deserve such ill treatment.

Another, is an international student from Nigeria who is studying, ironically given the supposed cause of the protests, international relations, whose three small children and wife were cowering upstairs in a locked room.

And finally, a young woman from Bangladesh, a health carer, who has lived in the town with her husband for three years. Her two-year-old daughter was safely upstairs with her grandparents.

Prior to this awful night, she’d always felt welcomed and happy in the town that she said was friendly.

It was then the final feeling hit me: shame. How can we live in a society that treats its members in this way?

As well as being a reporter I am also a councillor in Middlesbrough and I feel I know its people.

I’ve already seen passionate Teessiders orchestrating clean ups tomorrow. People who do actually love and care for the town, issuing a call to action to clear up the grim remnants of destruction.

We’ll get over it, we’ll band together and move on like we always do.

But one thing is for sure - far right, far left, I really don’t care - this must stop before another tragedy occurs.