Updated

Residents in a southern Chinese town say they have spontaneously taken to the streets in their thousands to protest an incinerator project they fear will contaminate the air and drinking water.

Authorities say the Sunday protest turned violent as some people attempted to break into government offices and police were injured.

The protest took place in Lubu town in Guangdong province and concerns a project to build an incinerator that would also generate power.

The protest was sparked by an announcement Saturday afternoon that the project was being stopped.

Residents reached by phone said that people were concerned that the project was not permanently canceled.

A propaganda department of the district that oversees Lubu town says an unspecified number of police was injured.