PEOPLE on both sides of the referendum debate have been urged to "rein in the abuse" being directed at reporters covering the campaign amid claims of intimidation.

The National Union of ­Journalists (NUJ) issued the ­warning yesterday following a demonstration outside BBC Scotland's headquarters on Sunday.

A large crowd with flags and placards protested outside the Glasgow offices against the BBC's reporting of the campaign, with many calling for UK political editor Nick Robinson to be sacked.

The NUJ said that "for the ­duration of the referendum there has been hostility to journalists doing their jobs", with social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook allowing "contributors anonymity to make personal attacks on individuals."

The union said it had already advised a number of journalists to report attacks to the police and it will "name and shame individuals and organisations that continue to threaten or bully our members."

It said it was particularly concerned about "threats about future employment at the country's main broadcaster as well as public labelling of journalists and programmes as being biased".

In a leaked email Chris Diamond, senior broadcast journalist for BBC Scotland, said there had been "reports of staff elsewhere being subject to harassment while out and about on stories."

Incidents of intimidation and abuse have also been noted by reporters from other national broadcasters.

In the statement the union added: "The NUJ asks the leadership on both sides to consider carefully the implications of their attacks on journalists for asking challenging questions.

"If that is to be interpreted as bias, and therefore the journalist is deemed to be open to personal ­criticism and abuse, then the nature of public debate will be debased, and we will all suffer."

The Better Together campaign declined to comment. A spokesman for Yes Scotland said: "There is no place for attacks - be they abuse, vandalism or physical assault - in this campaign. We have been at pains to impress on everyone, on both sides of the debate, to treat others with respect at all times."

LibDem Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael said there had been "a mob outside Pacific Quay, the BBC head­quarters in Glasgow, trying to influence their reporting of this referendum."

Paul Holleran, the NUJ's ­Scottish organiser, said: "People have the right to protest if they believe strongly about an issue. However, protesters outside the BBC offices in Glasgow this ­weekend have demanded that journalists be sacked, for allegedly being biased in favour of the union.

"Journalists in Edinburgh and Aberdeen were abused over the weekend when simply turning up to report on events organised by both sides. Others were on the receiving end of a range of abuse and intolerance on social media, some of which has been logged and maybe reported to the police.

"We have also experienced a number of Labour MPs accusing the corporation's most experienced and talented journalists of political bias against the Better Together campaign. This highlights the fact that people on both sides are accusing the BBC of bias."

Mr Holleran said robust debate, and pointing out when journalists make errors is "expected and welcomed" but journalists should be allowed to do their jobs free of intimidation. He added: "What is totally unacceptable is the use of threats of violence."

A BBC spokeswoman said: "We believe our coverage of the referendum has been rigorously impartial and in line with our guidelines on fairness and impartiality."