Protesters on the Garvaghy Road in Portadown are urged to return to the road amid plans the Orange Order is to attempt to march.

The march by Portadown Orange District was due to go-ahead on Sunday at 8am. Several attempts were made but the parade was blocked by police.

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Portadown Orange District remains at Drumcree Church with calls for the PSNI Chi...

Protesters link arms on the Garvaghy Road, Portadown. It follows a decision by the Parades Commission to permit Portadown Orange District to march through the Garvaghy Road.

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Simultaneously thousands of residents and supporters gathered on the Garvaghy Road in an attempt to thwart the march.

Despite a Sunday full of tension, the residents remained on the road until Monday morning when many returned home.

The Orangemen attempted a march at 9.30am on Monday morning and this again was stopped by police.

The District’s lawyer Jamie Bryson and Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart arrived at Drumcree Parish Church on Monday morning.

Mr Bryson said: “At 2:10pm Portadown District will form up to complete their parade. They are peaceful and lawful, and will comply with PSNI directions. If PSNI have still lost control to the mob, they will not be able to yet facilitate the parade. The rule of law runs up against the rule of the mob. Which will prevail?”

A number of groups have called for people to return to the protest on the Garvaghy Road.

Drumcree Centre said: “Folks, we are continuing to maintain a resident's presence at the junction of Drumcree Road/ Garvaghy Road for now. We will notify the community of any change. There is a public meeting tonight at 7pm at the pastoral centre.”

The Julie Dougan Sinn Fein Cumann in Portadown said: "The situation remains fluid. This is not over.

"An attempt was made by a small number of Orangemen to march from Drumcree Church at 9:30am today. They were turned back by the PSNI. Another attempt is being made at this very moment.

"People are strongly encouraged to remain in the Garvaghy Road area if at all possible, ready to support local residents if necessary.”

Representatives of Garvaghy Road residents are to meet the Secretary of State following a large protest against the Orange Order march through the area.

Tensions are extremely high on the Garvaghy Road since a court ruling permitting the Parades Commission determination to allow Portadown Orange District LOL 1 to march.

Despite the parade being pared down to 35 men, the residents remained opposed citing their right to live peacefully and referring to past trauma and murders in the late 1990s. 1997 was the last time the Orange Order marched through Garvaghy Road. At that time there was widespread violence across NI.

Early on Sunday morning, and despite heavy rain, the residents plus thousands of supporters gathered on the Garvaghy Road to block the route insisting that the Orange march would never go through their area.

When the rain eased the afternoon the PSNI announced that the protest was unlawful and called on everyone to disperse.

Five PSNI negotiators arrived walking towards the protesters. MLA Deirdre Hargey informed them that police had the numbers of local representatives to contact them.

Some protesters told them that there would be no negotiations.

The stand off continues.