Protestor attempts to steal St George's flag at Trafalgar Square demonstration

The clash came in an otherwise peaceful demonstration in the capital as Unite the Kingdom and Stand Up To Racism protesters displayed placards with their respective views.

An estimated 300 chanted: “Say it loud say it clear - refugees are welcome here".

One speaker told the crowd: “Migrants are not your enemy! Shame on reckless politicians who peddle hatred against Muslims migrants and others.”

Unite the Kingdom took to streets across the country with around 20 gathering in Trafalgar Square.

Holding placards with slogans such as “Stop illegal immigration” and “Save our culture”, one of their protesters repeatedly sung Rule Britannia at the counterdemonstration which was being held back by Metropolitan Police officers.

Speaking to GB News, founder of Unite the Kingdom, Clare Austin said: “What we want to say is look, we’re not the far-right folks that you’re portraying us to be.

“We’re just mums, sisters, aunts, we’re just here because we’re concerned the other media, and the government, are trying to turn everything against us.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

• British tourists boycott Magaluf leading to 'unusually quiet' summer
• Labour's credibility scolded over 'outrageous' freebie scandal in scathing rant: 'It's hypocrisy'
• Tragedy as schoolboy, 9, dies 'completely out of the blue' on way home from Tenerife holiday

“We’re here because we want to show we are concerned about genuine concerns.”

Speaking at the Labour Party conference this week, Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, responded to the protests seen across the country in recent months.

She said: “We will not let disorder and violence silence a serious debate on immigration, something that has been missing for too long amid the chaos, the gimmicks and the damaging, ramped-up rhetoric.”