Police have arrested 65 people, mainly for breach of the peace, in G8-related incidents in central Scotland.

Five officers were injured when about 300 protesters from an eco-village camp damaged business premises in Stirling and attacked police.

The protesters then caused chaos on the transport network, bringing the M9 to a standstill for a period.

In Edinburgh, where a protest was held on Princes Street, 17 people were arrested during the day.

The trouble in Central Scotland resulted in police withdrawing permission for a march in Auchterarder, close to the G8 summit venue at Gleneagles, on public safety grounds.

The decision was later reversed and activists began their protest about 1415 BST.

Deputy Chief Constable David Mulhearn said the people resposible for the Stirling attacks were individuals with "no regard for their own safety or that or any member of the public or police officers".

He said: "At approximately 0300 BST on Wednesday a group of an estimated 300 people emerged from the eco-village in Stirling intent and began causing significant disruption in the area.

"They immediately attacked business premises in a retail park close to the site of the village before splitting into smaller groups of between 40 and 60 people each and embarking on major disorder in Stirling itself and Bannockburn and violently engaging with police."

Vehicles, banks and a Burger King restaurant on the Springkerse retail park in Stirling were attacked.

Road and rail services were also disrupted for a time with the M9 motorway and the rail line north of Dunblane blockaded.

'Significant minority'

DCC Mulhearn added: "This force has always supported the right to free speech and peaceful, lawful demonstration. We have sought to facilitate that.

"The actions of this significant minority of people have no connection whatsoever to free speech or legitimate protest.

"Their only motive was to cause disruption and damage to property and police officers."

All roads in the Central Scotland Police area were now operating normally, he said.

In Edinburgh, hundreds of protesters said they had been prevented from leaving for the march at Auchterarder.

They organised their own march along Princes Street but were stopped from entering the financial district or approaching the US consulate.

The crowd was stopped at the foot of the Mound, and after at least an hour about 120 to 150 of the protesters headed over the Royal Mile, before being slowly marshalled through the city's south side and into the Meadows.

But the crowd continued to walk through the Meadows and return to the city centre via George IV Bridge and the Mound.

The crowd appeared to be blocked in Waterloo Place before being dispersed about 1700 BST.

Lothian and Borders Police said there had been sporadic groups wandering along streets in the city, but there was "no violence, damage or injuries reported".

They said they had made 17 arrests in Edinburgh during the course of the day, mainly for offences involved public order.

Security operation

World leaders arrived at Prestwick Airport in Ayrshire before transferring to Gleneagles.

A major security operation was in place as the international delegates flew in to be greeted by Scottish First Minister Jack McConnell, who condemned the violence.

Youngsters from Auchterarder Community School were to have joined other children welcoming the arriving world leaders at Prestwick but their trip had to be cancelled because of the traffic disruption caused by protesters blockading roads.

Prime Minister Tony Blair arrived at Edinburgh Airport from Singapore just before 0700 BST and boarded a helicopter to head to Gleneagles.