GM Police are attempting to re-assert control of the city following a night in which out of control gangs of youths wandered around the streets of Manchester looting businesses armed only with pushbikes, hoodies and bottles.

Taking to Twitter overnight as arrests had already begun the force noted how social media, used so effectively to organise the mayhem, was now being employed to stop it:

Officers tweeted: “Looter just handed himself into a GMP station after seeing himself looting on Facebook. Officers continuing to make arrests.”

Adding: “If you have been using social networking sites to incite disorder, expect us to come knocking on your door very soon.”

In a statement the assistant chief constable Garry Shewan said: “We have captured offenders on CCTV and I want to send a clear message to these people that they will not get away with this – we are reviewing these images and we will be coming for you as early as tomorrow.”