All is quiet in the fields of Drumcree

It was quiet at Drumcree throughout yesterday, with very few people in the area until after teatime last night when a few hundred, mostly families, visited the area.

This morning British army troops and RUC were expected to comb the fields in the area around the church and rectory as they had yesterday morning. This is to ensure people do not stay in the area overnight and that any offensive weapons brought in will be cleared.

Three youths appeared in Craigavon District Court yesterday following skirmishes on Sunday night near the Catholic cemetery on the Dungannon Road. Two were charged with disorderly conduct and one with possession of cannabis.

It was indicated last night that the Loyalist Volunteer Force would issue a statement in connection with Drumcree some time this morning.

In bright sunshine soldiers played cricket on their side of the fortifications while a small group of Orangemen and supporters sat around sunning themselves.

However, Royal Engineers erected more razor wire close to a Catholic church where loyalists clashed with police briefly on Sunday night.

And police seized 20 petrol bombs on the loyalist Kilcomane housing estate in the town after a call from a member of the public. No arrests were made.

Meanwhile, an Orange Parade scheduled to take place in Lurgan, Co Armagh, last night was called off. County Grand Master Mr Denis Watson said this was to lessen tension in the area and as an expression of solidarity with the stance of the Portadown District at Drumcree.

He said it was an attempt to "reduce tensions and show solidarity with the Portadown brethren".

But Mr Breandan Mac Cionnaith, of the Garvaghy Road residents' group, had a different explanation for the calm: "The Orange Order doesn't have the support it believes it has."

The chairman of the Parades Commission, Mr Alistair Graham, welcomed the "restrained and responsible" way in which both the Orangemen and the residents had conducted themselves on Sunday.