Gleneagles demo begins dispersing

Demonstrators approach the Gleneagles perimeter fence after breaking through police lines. Photograph: Ted S Warren/AP

At about 5.45pm, the vast majority of the protesters who had not entered the field had been corralled back in to the centre of Auchterarder. Around 200 demonstrators remained in the field, surrounded by riot police.

Police were not allowing access back along the route of the march for observers to check on the stand-off that remained outside the Gleneagles perimiter fence.

As heavy rain returned, march organisers attempted to herd the original 5,000-strong contingent of demonstrators back on to buses out of the small town, and away from the scenes of pandemonium.