A vicar in Wales is urging people to pray for the community of Ely in Cardiff after it was shattered by violence.

Up to 150 people were involved in the riots which police described as 'large-scale disorder' after a crash in which two teenage boys died.

Some police officers were injured after rocks and fireworks were thrown and vehicles were set on fire. South Wales Police say several arrests have been made.

Rev Tim Jones, who is Director of Ministry for the Diocese of Llandaff told Premier it’s important to pray for everyone affected by the violence :

“There'll be many people who are going to be frightened for people they know and love in the area. And one of the things that churches can help people to do is to remind people that God is good, and God is sovereign, that even when bad things happen, God remains sovereign. God calls us to help be part of a solution, rather than contribute to things getting worse.

“First of all, pray for the families of those two boys who lost their lives, their lives will be changed forever. Pray also for the repose of the soul of the two boys.

“Pray for the police officers who've been injured, and pray for their families. Every day police have to go out onto the streets, they will have had a call late last night, to quickly come in and get kitted out and go on to the streets. Police officers have families themselves who are going to be worried for their loved ones who go out to do a job and try to protect us all.

“Then there is the wider community. Communities that live with a high degree of deprivation have fewer resources to cope with difficult things in life. So pray for all those people who live in those communities and all those volunteers, especially in churches who give their time and energy and effort to try to make life in places of deprivation that much easier.

“Pray too for those for whom fear and anger has caused them to do dangerous things. Pray for them to find ways to deal with anger, which don't bring fear and danger to the rest of the community.”