A 29-year-old policewoman was taken to hospital after she suffered an arm injury while policing a cordon at the protest.

All of those arrested during the march by 500 members of the EDL were held for public order offences and no-one was seriously injured, Nottinghamshire Police said.

One of those detained needed hospital treatment after he kicked a police dog, which retaliated and bit him.

Police leave was temporarily cancelled and more than 700 officers drafted in, many from outside forces, in a £1 million security operation to prevent violence during the rally.

Many members of the far-right group, which says it stands against Islamic extremism, had their faces covered with scarves and hooded tops as they chanted: “We want our country back.”

Other protesters had Union Jacks and St George’s flags wrapped around their shoulders, while some held placards which read: “Protect Women, No To Sharia” and “No Surrender”.

“They were here to provoke a fight,” said Councillor Jon Collins, leader of Nottingham City Council. “They didn’t look the most intelligent bunch of people and there certainly seemed to be strong football affiliations.”

The EDL’s sister organisation, the Scottish Defence League, held its first rally north of the Border earlier this month when its members demonstrated in Glasgow.