Monuments in George Square have been fenced off by council workers as thousands flock to the landmark on referendum polling day.

The move - which comes as political demonstrations in the city centre reach their peak - is to prevent people from injuring themselves, say council officials.

This afternoon, city council workers wearing yellow vests unloaded six-foot fencing from vans and erected it around monuments, including the Cenotaph.

A council spokesman said the action was in line with advice from Police Scotland.

Some demonstrators voiced concerns that the moves were unnecessary.

John Sharp, 44, from Castlemilk, said: "There hasn't been any trouble over the past few days and there have been thousands of people in the square.

"I can't see how doing this will make people safer. What if the fencing falls down and hurts someone?"

Angus McPherson, 52, from Bristol, who created the large pro-Independence banner which has been erected on the grassy area across from the Millennium Hotel, said: "The fencing creates entirely the wrong impression.

"The people who have gathered in the square have been well behaved and considerate.

"The atmosphere has been fantastic and we have had people of all ages coming together. It all seems a bit unnecessary."

Suggestions that the grassy areas were also to be fenced off were dismissed by the council.

A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: "Fencing has been erected on George Square in line with Police Scotland advice.

"This has been done both to prevent people from climbing on the statues and potentially injuring themselves or others, and to protect the statues themselves from damage."