One of Scotland's busiest shopping thoroughfares has witnessed a stand-off between pro and anti-independence campaigners, with accusations that the country's "imperial masters" had arrived in the form of Labour MPs to boost the No camp.

Yesterday's scenes, which saw dozens of police act as peace brokers, occupied a corner of Buchanan Street at the steps of Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall.

Shoppers and office workers watched amused as campaigners tried to outdo each other around the statue of the late Donald Dewar, the first man to lead Scotland after devolution, with a week to go until voters go to the polls.

The atmosphere was fuelled by the arrival of 100 Labour MPs in Glasgow as part of a concerted push for the No campaign.

As the Westminster politicians tried to deliver their message, their pro-independence rivals got in on the act and cried "Yes Scotland."

The stand-off came after the "love train" of Labour MPs from England and Wales were greeted at Glasgow Central station by a handful of Scottish Labour politicians and a spontaneous round of applause from surprised members of the public.

But once outside they were greeted by pro-independence hecklers. One rode alongside them through the streets in a rickshaw with a sound system playing The Imperial March from the Star Wars soundtrack.

He kept up with the group as they walked through the city centre and boomed into a megaphone "Welcome to our imperial masters! Our imperial masters have arrived!"

Under the statue of Mr Dewar's statue they were greeted with cheers from about 100 Labour politicians and No campaigners.

But there were also boos from a crowd at least as large of Yes activists.

There were minor scuffles between the two groups as some banged up against each other. At one point police had to move the crowd back to create more space between the two groups.

Sean Clerkin, the campaigner who forced then Labour leader Iain Gray to hide in a Glasgow shop in the 2011 election campaign, also managed to infiltrate the No group holding a Yes sign.

When Labour leader Ed Miliband appeared to speak he was greeted with a mixture of cheers and jeers, but his words were effectively drowned put by the crowd shouting "Yes, Yes, Yes".

As he finished, one campaigner shouted: "Get back to London, get back to Hampstead" referring to his roots in the leafy suburb.

Last night a Police Scotland said the event had passed off peacefully and there had been no arrests.