At least 35 people have been arrested as demonstrators succeeded in disrupting the Beijing Olympic torch relay as it made its way across London today.

On at least one occasion the Olympic flame was detoured away from its pre-planned route and placed on a bus on the advice of police, who said they could no longer guarantee to maintain order in the face of vigorous protests.

At points on the 31 mile route a phalanx of police officers, marching with their arms locked around each other's shoulders, had to form a protective ring around the flame in order to ensure that the torchbearer could continue to make progress.

Amid chaotic scenes television personality Konnie Huq said she had been “a bit bashed about” when a demonstrator tried to rip the torch out of her hands.

“I was determined to hang on, it was all a bit of a shock. People were shouting ’just keep going’,” Ms Huq told BBC television.

Scotland Yard confirmed that two people were arrested in connection with the scuffle around Ms Huq, a former Blue Peter presenter who was carrying the flame from Lancaster Road to Blenheim Crescent in north-west London when protesters rushed forward and grappled with her.

The torch is passing through London on its round-the-world tour en route for China, where the 2008 Games will take place in Beijing from August 8 to 24.

Campaigners protesting against China’s crackdown on pro-independence activists in Tibet lined the route, shouting and waving banners. Falun Gong and the Burma Campaign were also among the protesters.

More than 2,000 Metropolitan Police officers had been mobilised to protect the torch, which has been a magnet for human rights protesters since it was lit and began its progress around the world last week. The London protests have however dwarfed the unrest seen elsewhere on its route.

Events began according to plan, as five times gold medallist Steve Redgrave started the torch’s 31 mile (50 km) journey through London at Wembley at 10.30am. Over the ensuing eight hours about 80 British athletes and celebrities were due to carry the torch by foot, bike, boat and bus across the capital. The torch relay was to end at Greenwich in the hands of Kelly Holmes, the runner who won two gold middle-distance medals in the 2004 Games.

Police had been expecting up to 80,000 spectators to watch the relay. Early on crowds were comparatively small, suggesting many had been deterred by the heavy snow showers, but swelled during the day and protests were more vigorous than expected.

Outside the British Museum in north London flour bombs were thrown as officers struggled to restrain the demonstrators.

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