More than 170 demonstrators were arrested today after they descended on a nuclear submarine base to mark the end of a year-long campaign.

A total of about protestors had descended on Faslane Naval Base on the Clyde, home of the UK's Trident fleet of nuclear submarines.

Many of them started blockading the main entrance by gluing themselves to the Tarmac outside and chaining themselves together and to the fence.

Police moved in quickly to start removing the demonstrators, making 94 arrests by 10.00am.

Witnesses spoke of a "continuous" stream of people being carried off by teams of officers.

The protesters were marking the end of Faslane 365, a year-long campaign against the hosting of the Trident fleet in Scotland.

It has led to more than 940 arrests and a recent report showed the cost of policing the base has exceeded £5 million.

Organisers of today's action vowed to mark the occasion through "colourful, creative and dramatic actions" at the base.

Coachloads of people started arriving shortly before 7am today, when they were greeted by a large police presence.

Protesters blocked the entrance to the main gate by lying on the ground with their arms linked by tubes.

Police used special cutting equipment to free them, before carrying them away to applause from the crowd.

Other protesters blocked the base's other entrance, as well as the A814 to Garelochhead, by lying on the ground with their arms linked by tubes.

Politicians from across the country, including MSPs and MEPs, also attended today's "Big Blockade".

Scottish Green Party co-leader Robin Harper MSP was among the first to arrive at Faslane today.

He said: "The police are clearing people more or less as soon as they lie down.

"It's clear they are expecting a lot more people to come down and perhaps want to get started straight away.

"There is a continuous stream of people being carried away, but more are replacing them."

He added: "The use, the threat of use, and the planned replacement of Trident are all illegal.

"We should take a lead in fighting the wars of this century - the war against poverty, injustice and environmental destruction - not spend £25 billion on weapons of mass destruction aimed at civilians.

"Trident is not wanted by UK citizens and I support this protest against Westminster's increasingly disastrous foreign and defence policy."

Glasgow SNP MSP Sandra White said: "I congratulate all those who have taken part in the Faslane 365 campaign this past year and been arrested for blockading the base.

"This is the most important event in the Scottish calendar this year because we can no longer afford both morally and financially to have these weapons of mass destruction on our shores."

Jill Evans MEP, Plaid Cymru deputy president, also voiced her support for the protest during her party's conference last week.

Strathclyde Police urged motorists to avoid the area around the base while the protest lasts.

A spokesman for Faslane Naval Base said the protests had not had an effect on the main operations and people inside.

He said: "They have not really affected us at all.

"Some gates have been closed as they have been this morning, but they have never affected the main priority of the base.

"I think it's unfortunate that the protests have had an impact on the local community."

He added: "The protests have lasted these last 12 months, but everyone in the base believes in democracy too."