FLAMING petrol bombs, hundreds of bricks and a torrent of verbal abuse were hurled at riot police as they tried to calm angry war protestors.

More than 100 raging campaigners taunted the 50-strong police support unit (PSU), called in to diffuse the demonstration at a County Durham munitions factory.

The rally, against the production of weapons and ammunition at a plant in Weardale, started peacefully with a handful of campaigners making sit-down protests to stop staff trying to leave the site.

But as the tension mounted, there were chaotic scenes in the usually tranquil dale as demonstrators swamped the site.

Grabbing the nearest objects to use as missiles, they hurled bricks and blazing petrol bombs at the advancing force.

Officers, kitted out with protective clothing, helmets and shields, managed to dampen the overzealous atmosphere.

Eventually, they manoeuvred the crowd away from the labyrinth of warehouses to a fast-food van . . . where the two parties shared jokes over burgers and hot dogs.

The incident was one of two training exercises for members of Durham Constabulary's PSU, held at LaFarge UK's former cement works at Eastgate, Weardale, this week.

The bricks were wooden blocks and the petrol bombs were thrown by trained officers with firefighting equipment to hand.

Many of the officers, stationed across the county, assisted during the race riots in Bradford, oversaw drugs raids and supervised high-tension football matches.

Inspector Adrian Green, commander on site, was responsible for implementing the control strategy on the ground.

He said: "Our aim generally is to allow peaceful protest and to protect the public.

"Officers need regular training so they are prepared to deal with large-scale incidents and have the experience to deal calmly with protestors and prevent things getting out of control. This exercise was as close to real life as we can safely get."

Causing all the mayhem were 150 Army cadets from across the North-East, including Christopher Edwards, 14, of Murton, from Seaham detachment C-Company.

He said: "I can see why protests can get out of control. You want to express your anger and when the adrenaline starts pumping you want to keep going back for more. It was really exciting."

Lieutenant Neil Foster, of Crook, said: "It was a good experience for the cadets, allowing them to get rid of energy and aggression in a controlled environment, and it helps the police."

Peter Greeno, works manager for the site, said: "This has to be one of the most unusual things we've seen. We're happy to help the police with this sort of training for the police and public safety."