Protesters continue to block Portadown’s Garvaghy Road in a tense standoff, as police instruct them to disperse.

Leaders of several Irish nationalist parties have arrived at the scene, speaking in support of protesters and against the first scheduled Orange Order parade along the street in almost 30 years.

The march through the Co Armagh town was a flashpoint in the 1990s, repeatedly sparking serious trouble between the heavily nationalist residents of the road and Orangemen.

Northern Ireland’s Parades Commission gave a green light to holding a Sunday morning parade this month, allowing it with hefty restrictions.

placeholder image — Protesters block Portadown's Garvaghy Road as the police call on them to disperse. Photo: Photo: Peter Morrison/PA Wire

Only 35 members of the Orange Order are allowed to walk up Garvaghy Road, and they must do so in silence. None of their traditional bands are to perform during the parade and no supporters must be present.

Even that restricted version was unacceptable to residents, however, who have for years refused to enter into negotiations over the march.

All morning a large protest has been blocking the road amid heavy rain, while Orangemen and their supporters have been in Drumcree Church roughly a mile away, waiting for police approval to parade.

Yesterday residents got a court injunction blocking the march, but that was overturned in a court battle that lasted until the early hours of this morning.

Nationalist leaders including the province’s First Minister, Michelle O’Neill of Sinn Fein, have been on the scene backing the protest while, using loudhailers, the police have repeatedly called for people to clear the road.

Unionists have slammed both the protest and the actions of nationalist political leaders, DUP leader Gavin Robinson accusing them of “inflaming opposition” to “lawful decisions”.

Ms O’Neill argued the situation “brings into question how this whole peace process works”. Asked if the standoff could result in the collapse of Stormont, she stated: “What’s the point? What’s the point whenever people are going to railroad over their rights? Whenever they’re going to try to roll back in 28 years of progress?”

Meanwhile DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley branded the standoff “an attempt by those led by mob rule to upend a lawful decision by the courts” while Sinn Fein party president Mary Lou McDonald, backing the protest, called on Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant to intervene.

Sir Chris is to cut short his attendance at Labour’s party conference today and fly to Northern Ireland – but stated he can only get involved if asked to by PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher, which so far has not happened.

Said the Secretary of State: “I wish we weren’t in this position. I wish we weren’t looking at relitigating things of the past.

“But the court decided that the adjudication, the determination of the Parades Commission stood. So it’s important that everybody abides by the law.”

Mr Boutcher has called on “those with influence to encourage people to comply with the law”, while Prime Minister Andy Burnham appealed for "calm on all sides”.