Demonstrators gather in Madrid

More than 50,000 demonstrators from across Spain gathered in Madrid’s central Plaza de Colon.

Protestors chanted slogans both in favour of Spain and the country’s constitution and repeatedly shouted “Long live the Guardia Civil” and “We’re proud of our police”.

Both forces were strongly criticised for their brutal tactics in last week’s pro-independence referendum in Catalonia, in which hundreds were injured.

Whilst the Madrid demonstration is the biggest pro-unity show of strength since the Catalonia crisis reached a head last week, much smaller but more numerous protests – roughly 50 – in favour of dialogue with the Catalan ‘independentistas’ simultaneously took place across in cities and towns across Spain.