Thousands of Loyalist marchers from all over the UK yesterday took part in a parade in Glasgow, described by police as one of the biggest of its kind.

The procession involved an estimated 3,300 members of the Apprentice Boys of Derry and around 50 bands.

The streets were lined with supporters and traffic ground to a halt as the parade left the city's Glasgow Green at noon, following a route around the east end of the city.

There was a heavy police presence around the march and ahead of the parade. Last night police reported two arrests - one for alleged sectarian offences and one for an outstanding warrant.

Ahead of the march, Chief Inspector Mark Sutherland had warned violence and anti-social behaviour from an "unwelcome minority" who use the event as an excuse to drink alcohol would not be tolerated.

The Apprentice Boys were set up to commemorate the 1689 Siege of Derry, when the Catholic James II of England and VII of Scotland, at war with William of Orange, laid siege to the Protestant stronghold of Derry. It lasted 105 days and claimed more than 10,000 lives.

The organisation holds marches in different cities throughout the UK, with the parade being held in Newcastle, Perth, Stirling, Inverness and Belfast in recent years.

Concerns have been raised in recent years over the amount of money spent on policing such parades, while critics claim they can stoke sectarian tensions.