Riot police were called to the Suites Hotel in Prescot, Knowsley, on Friday night (Pictures: PA/London News Pictures)

Three people were arrested after scenes of ‘deeply shocking’ violence erupted during a far-right protest outside a hotel housing asylum seekers.

Activists gathered outside the Suites Hotel in Prescot, Knowsley, last night to demonstrate against the migrants staying there.

Chaos then broke out after a counter-protest formed, with social media footage showing a police van set on fire.

Those detained were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and taken to police stations to be questioned.

The evening was apparently triggered by a social media video showing a 25-year-old man speaking with a 15-year-old girl.

Footage shows some protesters shouting ‘n**ces’ at the hotel and then complaining that the police are ‘protecting the n**ces’.

Flyers were reportedly used to organise the demonstration earlier in the day, they read: ‘Five-star hotels for migrants while Brits freeze’.

Labour MP Sir George referred the ‘alleged incident’ involving the 15-year-old girl to the police and stressed ‘it is too soon to jump to conclusions’ until it has been investigated.

The police arrested three men on suspicion of violent disorder (Picture: LNP)

Social media footage shows a police van on fire (Picture: LNP)

He said: ‘If an offence has been committed, the police should deal with it appropriately through due process.

‘In addition, the misinformation about refugees being feather-bedded is untrue and intended to paint a picture that does not at all represent the facts.’

Founder of refugee charity Care4Calais Clare Moseley said she was among 100 to 120 people from pro-migrant groups who went to the scene in reaction to the protest to show support for the asylum seekers.

She said: ‘I’m trying to get in touch with some of the poor men in that hotel, I can only imagine how frightened they are. It was like a war zone.’

Merseyside’s police commissioner Emily Spurrell tweeted: ‘Deeply shocking and concerning scenes of violence in Knowsley this evening.

‘Utterly unacceptable behaviour, putting officers and public in danger. I am monitoring the situation closely. There is absolutely no excuse for this.’

Locals gathered outside the hotel with a sign which read: ‘Deport not support’ (Picture: Liverpool Echo)

Chaos erupted and, at one point, protesters hurled missiles (Picture: PA)

Assistant chief constable Paul White said: ‘We will always respect the right to protest when these are peaceful, but the scenes tonight were completely unacceptable, putting those present, our officers and the wider community in danger.

‘Thankfully we have not had any serious injuries reported up to this point, but for officers and police vehicles to be damaged in the course of their duty protecting the public is disgraceful.’

Sir George added: ‘The people of Knowsley are not bigots and are welcoming to people escaping from some of the most dangerous places in the world in search of a place of safety.

‘Those demonstrating against refugees at this protest tonight do not represent this community.

‘We are not like that and overwhelmingly behave with sympathy and kindness to others regardless of where they come from.’

The Refugee Council’s Mark Davies said those who had participated in or encouraged Friday night’s protests had brought ‘shame on this country’s long and proud record’ of helping those in need.

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The evening erupted into chaos with social media footage showing a police van on fire.