AN Asian taxi driver has been jailed for two years for his part in the Burnley riots last summer.

Preston Crown Court heard how police were charged at by a group, some carrying weapons, and CCTV cameras were damaged.

Nadeem Yasin, 23, of Robert Street, Nelson, pleaded guilty to violent disorder over the events in June last year.

The court heard that he was part of a group which charged at police, but he could not be seen as it reached a police line.

Judge David Boulton told him, as he handed out the custodial term: "The action of any one person must be seen in the context of the general disorder.

"There is a tendency in these disorders for violence to feed upon itself." Two other defendants were both ordered to carry out community work.

Shahood Akbar, 30, of Farrer Street, Nelson had admitted criminal damage and having an offensive weapon.

He was ordered to carry out 120 hours community punishment. Fazheer Hussain, 18, of Gordon Street, Burnley was made the subject of 180 hours community punishment for criminal damage and possessing an offensive weapon. The prosecution said that Hussain climbed a mast and unsuccessfully tried to place a bin liner over a CCTV camera. Later, a machete was passed to him and he used it to chop at the wires of a closed circuit camera.

He went on to tell police he had climbed the pole because he felt intimidated by others. On his behalf, counsel said he was 16 years old at the time and perhaps led on by others.

Akbar -- wearing a scarf across the bottom of his face -- was spotted carrying a large wooden stick.

On Yasin's behalf, Miss Tanoo Mylvaganam told the court he had played a minor role in what happened.

His family's mini cab firm was attacked and this led to him being involved in a protest.

She said: "His conduct, which began as lawful self defence of his community, became excessive for a very short period of time -- two minutes. He used no personal violence himself".

A 25-year-old man, Farooq Bashir, of Abel Street, Burnley, had his sentencing for criminal damage and possessing an offensive weapon put back to next month when several others are also due to be sentenced.