Global gathering at Gleneagles: The long walk to conflict corner

THE riot police looked young and panicky — not a good start. “Calm down, chill, switch on,” their commander ordered as his men grudgingly parted ranks to allow our car through.

It was the first of five road blocks that had to be negotiated before we were allowed into the picturesque village of Auchterarder. The normally sedate hamlet now resembles the set of Robocop.

But the epicentre of the standoff to come dubbed 'conflict corner' the point where demonstrators would march within 500 yards of the G8 leaders and Gleneagles, seemed something of a disappointment.