Clashes and conflict at Gleneagles

THE G8 summit was rocked by violence and disagreement last night. Police and demonstrators clashed in running battles a few hundred yards from the Gleneagles luxury hotel where the leaders of the world’s eight richest countries are meeting.

Riot squad reinforcements were dropped by Chinook helicopter after 1,000 hard core protesters broke away from a peaceful anti-poverty march, smashed fences and threatened to storm the venue.

The demonstrators, many believed to be German anarchists, threw missiles at police who then used their shields and dogs to charge them back.