The Scottish Defence League was outnumbered four-to-one in Glasgow yesterday, as hundreds of counter-demonstrators protested against the far right group's 'anti-refugee rally'.

Police Scotland estimated that there were around 50 SDL supporters while up to 200 activists joined a counter demonstration.

The entire event lasted only thirty minutes, as restrictions were placed on the far-right group’s use of the city’s George Square.

They had originally asked authorities if they could hold the rally outside Glasgow Central Mosque, but said Police Scotland had “banned [them] from going anywhere near it”.

Although it was ostensibly an SDL demonstration, fascist groups from England and Northern Ireland turned up to bolster their numbers.

One giant St George’s Cross identified the 'North East of England White Infidels', another banner was emblazoned with the National Front logo.

They gave Nazi salutes, and held up signs saying 'White Pride Worldwide'. They chanted that refugees should go home, and at one point a man with a Newcastle accent shouted through a microphone to the anti-fascists: “You people are traitors to white people”.

The anti-fascist protestors included trade unionists, groups of anarchists, Unite Against Fascism and members of political parties.

“There are many, many, many more of us than you” they bellowed out at one point.

Flanked by police horses and vans, the neo-Nazis left the square at the end of their half-hour, singing Rule Britannia, and flicking v-signs at the anti-fascists, as they walked down George Street.

In turn, the protesters clapped, cheered and roared: “cheerio, cheerio, cheerio”.

Police Scotland said there were no arrests but SNP MSP Sandra White - who was at the front of the counter-demonstrations – said officers should have acted.

“They (the SDL) were using hatred and religious hatred and that’s against the law,” she said. “I’ll be writing to Police Scotland and raising it in the Parliament.”