Tens of thousands of demonstrators were today descending on two German towns and the French city of Strasbourg to protest at a Nato summit marking the alliance’s 60th anniversary.

Around 30,000 French and German police were today moving into position around three cities on both sides of the Rhine before a Nato summit involving President Barack Obama and 25 other leaders.

Nato bowed to Russian pressure today by delaying plans to expand eastwards to include two former Soviet republics.