SHENGYOU, China: A local Chinese Party official and 26 others are on trial for their roles in a bloody riot over land rights in northern China.

He Feng and the others were charged with causing "intentional injuries" during a clash with protesters in Shengyou village, Hebei, in June.

Six people died after villagers were attacked with guns, clubs, knives and fire extinguishers, the BBC said.

Violent disputes over land use are reported to be increasing in rural China.

At least three people died in Dongzhou last week, shot by police during a dispute over land compensation.

The Shengyou incident was sparked by a similar row. Protesters were angry they had not been compensated for land proposed for a power plant's ash storage yard.