Middlesbrough Mela returns after riots cancelled

A multicultural festival is returning after being postponed due to security concerns following nationwide riots.

The Middlesbrough Mela takes place this weekend at the town’s Albert Park.

Director Kash Patel said it had been a “hectic three weeks” organising the event’s return.

The festival was originally scheduled to take place on August 17 and 18, but organizers postponed it following unrest in the city earlier this month.

Anti-immigration rioters in Middlesbrough burned cars, damaged property, smashed windows at local courts and threw bins and bricks at police during the August 4 disturbances.

Mr Patel said the Mela was trying to “foster unity and understanding” between communities.

“We expect many people to come in solidarity and unity to celebrate this, because what happened in the middle of summer was something that no one expected and took us all by surprise,” he said.

“It was a minority and I think with something like Mela it brings out the commonalities between people, rather than the differences,” Mr Patel added.

The Middlesbrough event, now in its 34th year, is the longest running consecutive Mela in the UK.

Mr Patel had previously said organisers deliberated for days before postponing the event after the riots.

“We had a busy three weeks to get back on track, start from scratch and put the event together again,” he said.

“It will be a fantastic multicultural event. It will be a vibrant and colourful celebration of all the different communities that reside in Middlesbrough and the North East.”

The event is expected to attract around 50,000 people.