NICOLA STOW AND JUDE SHEERIN

THE official march to the edge of Gleneagles to mark the opening of the G8 summit in Scotland was cancelled today amid chaotic scenes after police came under attack from hundreds of protesters.

Tayside Police decided to ban the march on the grounds of public safety after running battles between police and anarchists erupted in Stirling this morning.

The violence saw around 300 protesters involved in running battles with police as demonstrators smashed cars with iron bars and hurled bricks through the windows of a Burger King.

The decision to cancel the official march at Gleneagles sparked fears of further disorder as protesters continued to flood into Perthshire, with some groups vowing to hold a demonstration "no matter what".

Around 1500 protesters were gathered in Auchterarder when the cancellation was announced just moments before the demonstration was due to begin.

In Edinburgh, hundreds of demonstrators who were due to leave Waterloo Place to head to Gleneagles, broke through police barriers and headed for Princes Street after being the told the march was off.

Police stopped the placard waving protesters at North Bridge by forming a line across the bottom of Princes Street, bringing traffic to a standstill.

Sir Bob Geldof was caught in the middle of the stand-off in a van as he tried to reach the Balmoral Hotel, where he is understood to be staying ahead of tonight's Live8 show at Murrayfield.

He had to be escorted out of the melee by police.

Around 300 protesters were then allowed to move down Princes Street before being corralled into Hanover Street.

In Auchterader, shortly before noon, a spokeswoman for Tayside Police, announced the council-approved march towards the hotel where the G8 leaders were gathering was off.

He said: "The G8 Alternatives march in Auchterarder has been cancelled following discussions between police and organisers."

The force later said it was possible the march could be rescheduled for later in the day.

Chief Supt Iain MacLeod, speaking at a press conference in Auchterarder , said: "We are asking people not to turn up for the march as we would not want to see peaceful protesters caught up with the anarchist elements in the march.

"It could be an option to reschedule the march at a later stage following consultation with G8 Alternatives."

Scottish Socialist MSP Carolyn Leckie said the cancellation of the peaceful march could prove a "very dangerous move" and urged protesters not to turn back. Speaking from Auchterarder, Ms Leckie said: "If you are talking about trying to keep traffic flowing freely and allow people to go about their business, turning back thousands of people on buses is going to cause more chaos than allowing the march to go ahead."

The widespread violence which broke out around Gleneagles led to widespread road closures across south Perthshire and Central Scotland. The M9 was among the roads brought to a standstill as protesters staged blockades.

In Stirling this morning, around 300 hooligans dressed in hooded tops with scarves obscuring their faces hurled missiles at police officers and barricaded roads.

Auchterarder, the nearest town to Gleneagles, was sealed off by police.

Trouble erupted in Stirling in the early hours of the morning as protesters began moving from an "eco-camp" where they had been based for the last week.

Masked hooligans rampaged through residential areas, smashing windows and wrenching satellite dishes from walls.

Gangs of around 200 rioters ran amok through streets and along major roads around the town - wielding weapons at police vans.

Banks and a burger restaurant on the Springkerse retail park were attacked.

Glass windows along the front of the Burger King were smashed and wood, rubble and rubbish lay strewn across the road.

The walls were daubed with slogans such as "F*** BK + G8" and "10,000 Pharaohs Six Billion Slaves".

Advertising signs were wrecked and a drive-through intercom system was uprooted.

One onlooker, who was involved on the fringes of the trouble, said protesters left the eco-camp at about 2.45am in a bid to blockade the M9.

Three large groups of about 100 people each were involved.

He said: "We all marched into the retail park trying to get on to the motorway.

"Various skirmishes happened with police."

Groups including the Black Block movement, which was prominent in the Genoa 2001 riots, are thought to be involved.

It is believed that the gangs may include British, Italian, German and Spanish anarchists.

They are among hundreds of people who have gathered in the Stirling area in the past few days.

A spokesman for Central Scotland Police said: "Police officers have come under attack and two arrests have been made so far," he said.

Police warned motorists to avoid the area as thousands of people left the eco-camp en route to Gleneagles.

There was major disruption on the M9 which passes Gleneagles. A group of protesters could be seen lying on the road surrounded by police.

Around 30 or 40 demonstrators were taking part in the blockade and it is understood that other larger protests were taking place elsewhere on the road.

One protester said groups of anti-capitalists had been involved in setting up blockades.

The man, who did not want to be named, said small groups of protesters were closing sections of the road. "As the police open the road, another group of protesters close it again."

"We are trying to get to the road but the police are everywhere."

In the village of Braco, about 50 activists were stopped by police as they attempted to make their way towards Auchterarder.

ScotRail closed Stirling station for a period on the advice of police because of protests in the area.

In Auchterarder, a number of people had begun to gather at the main park, from where the marchers will set off this lunchtime and where a rally is expected to be held by the G8 Alternatives campaign group.

Near the luxury Gleneagles resort, an airship with a CCTV camera system attached was monitoring security.

By 8.20am around 50 "eco-warriors" had blockaded a bridge between Crieff, where US delegates are understood to be staying at a top hotel, and Auchterarder.