FOUR loyalist marches through Glasgow will go ahead on Saturday after hundreds of people demonstrated against them being banned.

The Scottish Protestants Against Discrimination (SPAD) group was unhappy after the Public Processions Committee previously banned six parades by loyalists and republicans amid fears of sectarian disorder.

Glasgow City Council announced on Thursday the four parades can take place this Saturday despite flare-ups in recent weeks.

Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins said: "Our view is that if the processions were banned, some form of protest and disorder could still take place and the policing profile for Saturday would therefore be similar.

"If the processions go ahead it would allow us to continue to engage with known organisers to ensure balanced rights were upheld and to police the events under the conditions agreed by the council."

He added: "I need to appeal to people who plan on taking part in processions or counter-protests to do so peacefully.

"We will have a range of policing resources, including a range of specialist assets, in attendance and will take any necessary action against anyone causing disruption.

"The decision to amend the route or the timing, or to prohibit any procession, is a matter for the relevant local authority.

"Police Scotland is required to assist councils to make informed decisions by making appropriate representations on notifications which could potentially significantly risk public safety, disorder, damage to property or disruption to the life of the community."

Violence flared at parades in the city over recent weekends, with police responding to "significant disorder" at a march in Govan on August 30.

The following weekend, 11 people were arrested as two Republican marches were held through Glasgow city centre, with a police officer injured by a pyrotechnic thrown by loyalist protesters.

A subsequent protest staged by loyalist groups over the banning of a series of marches passed "without incident", police said.

Hundreds of demonstrators, including members of the Orange Order, gathered outside Glasgow City Council's headquarters on Saturday.

SPAD had claimed the prohibition was discrimination but the Church of Scotland said it recognised the decision to ban the marches was not based on religious discrimination.

The local authority said police warned there could be serious disorder if a Pride of Govan Flute Band procession was banned.

A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: "The council has been placed in an impossible position in relation to the parade in Govan.

"Police Scotland has said that, should the procession not go ahead, many of the 800 people due to take part will react angrily – which could lead to violence and a significant impact on the local community.

"We deeply regret that the wider community in Govan will be subject to this disruption.

"However, police have made it absolutely clear that this could be made worse if these people are not allowed to march."

He added: "The council has asked the organisers to voluntarily withdraw this notification, which they have refused to do.

"Today, we are directly appealing to them to reconsider that decision and think about the impact of their actions on the community in Govan and on tensions across the city.

"We also call on other groups not to mount protests against the march."