A hostile crowd verbally harassed Police on Cricket Lane while they were arresting a man for assaulting officers.

The incident happened early on Saturday morning when Police were called to the Somerset Cricket Club to deal with a disturbance.

When the officers approached the area they saw a group of men standing near the junction of Broome Street and Cricket Lane. After seeing the officers one man attempted to flee the scene in his car. Police followed him but the man refused to stop.

The 27-year-old crashed into a wall when he attempted to manoeuvre around a police vehicle which had blocked the road in front of him.

The man then tried to run away and assaulted two officers, eventually he was apprehended and arrests.

A Police spokesman said a hostile crowd then formed and advanced towards the officers. The crowd yelled at officers but dispersed after two additional police units showed up.

The two officers received minor injuries during the scuffle with the Somerset man.