Bonfires staged across Derry at the weekend

There was a large attendance at some of the bonfires, including in Galliagh and the Bogside, as people gathered to witness the pyres being set alight on Saturday night.

In some instances there were loyalist flags and other emblems placed on the bonfires, as has been the case previously with other bonfires in both predominantly unionist and nationalist areas, despite calls for the practice to end.

The controversial bonfire in Galliagh was among those that passed off without any reported incidents. There had been a number of serious disturbances in the Galliagh region over recent weeks, including vehicles being hijacked and burned and anti-social behaviour, with some of the trouble being linked by various representatives to the bonfire in the estate.

Fire-fighters in the Bogside meanwhile were witnessed dousing flats close to the bonfire.

An appeal was made last week for a rethink on approach to bonfires and direct engagement with those young people constructing them as a way forward on the bonfire issue.

Derry City & Strabane District Council meanwhile said a lot of work had gone into addressing the issue of bonfires, including community-led diversionary programmes.

The Council had also called on people to be mindful of the COVID-19 restrictions around unregulated mass gatherings.