Thousands of left-wing protesters carrying hate-filled banners branding the Tories 'scum' besieged the Conservative Party conference today.

Demonstrators carried a menacing banner showing leading Tory backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg with an arrow shot through his head.

Firebrand union boss Mark Serwotka, the chief of the Public and Commercial Services Union, called for a general strike to bring down the government.

Masked anarchists shouted while Communists swarmed into the city centre proudly carrying the hammer and sickle flag.

Thousands of left-wing protesters carrying hate-filled banners branding the Tories 'scum' have besieged the Conservative Party conference today

A menacing banner showing Tory MP Jacob-Rees-Mogg with an arrow through his head and branding the Tories 'scum' was proudly hung at the anti-Tory demonstration

Protesters carried anti-Tory banners and lit flares as they marched through Manchester

Armed police have formed a ring of steel around the Manchester conference centre amid fears it could be it by violence

Snipers were pictured perched on rooftops near to the conference centre in Manchester

Masked anarchists shouted while Communists swarmed into the city centre proudly carrying the hammer and sickle flag

Armed police have formed a ring of steel around the conference centre amid fears the protest will spill over into violence, while snipers are perched on rooftops nearby.

A £2million security effort has been thrown up around this year's conference in a bid to avoid a repeat of two years ago, when Tory delegates and journalists were spat at and had eggs thrown at them.

Leading Labour MPs have urged protesters not to turn to violence while Frances O'Grady, general secretary of the TUC, said demonstrators must remain 'respectful'.

Mr Serwotka called for a general strike on public sector pay to 'bring the Tories down', saying Tory policies were 'literally killing people'.

Conservative cuts to health and safety regulations preceded the Grenfell Tower fire disaster, he told the crowd.

He said: 'David Cameron told us he has slayed the health and safety monster, but we now know they slayed men and women and children as they slept in their houses.'

Today's noisy demonstration ended peacefully.

It finished with speeches that were drowned out by the police helicopter overhead and steel bands amongst the crowd at Piccadilly Gardens.

Thousands spilled into the square carrying banners and flags, many from mainstream left groups including the Labour Party and Unite and the PCS unions, but also from groups including the Socialist Workers Party and the Communist Party.

The vast majority protested peacefully but one small group, clad all in black and covering their faces with masks, jeered at police lining the march route taunting, 'go and catch some criminals'.

Police will remain on patrol as night falls and protesters disperse across the city centre, with 12,000 Tory delegates visiting the conference centre.

Protesters held red flares and flags in protests against Brexit and austerity as the Tories held their party conference in Manchester

Demonstrators carried anti-slogan banners as they marched through Manchester in protests against the Conservative Party

Yesterday a banner reading 'Hang the Tories' was dangled from a bridge in Manchester along with two suited effigies in a move widely condemned by both Labour and the Conservatives

Armed police were on patrol in Manchester as demonstrators marched through the city

About 25 police officers lined up to block the road and stood silently as the chants continued

Masked protesters clashed with police ahead of the Conservative Party conference in Manchester

A lone sniper kept watch on a rooftop near to the Manchester Central convention centre

Yesterday a banner reading 'Hang the Tories' was dangled from a bridge in the city along with two suited effigies in a move widely condemned by both Labour and the Conservatives.

Conservative MP Michael Fabricant tweeted a picture of the banner, which was hung from a footbridge near Salford.

He wrote: 'What a charming welcome to Manchester and the Conservative Party Conference. These aren't protesters, they're fascists.'

He later added: 'And these people say they are 'a Government in waiting'. Who will they hang next?'

Labour MPs were also quick to condemn the banner, claiming it does not represent the values of the party.

Lucy Powell, Labour MP for Manchester Central, said: 'On behalf of our city & my constituency, we're sorry about this. We disagree with and are angry with your policies, but we wish you no harm.'

Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner said she was 'disgusted' by the banner, adding it was drapped 'not in my name'.

Another Labour MP Gareth Snell tweeted: 'This is totally unacceptable and if people who did this think they speak for the Labour party, be assured they do not.'

BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg turned up at the Tory conference with her bodyguard, amid claims the corporation is merely trying to show 'impartiality'.

The journalist was accompanied by a protection officer at Labour's gathering in Brighton last week after suffering a long-running campaign of abuse from Corbynistas.

Left-wing activists have targeted Ms Kuenssberg with vile trolling for what they claim is her bias against Jeremy Corbyn.

The reporter was photographed arriving for the Conservative conference in Manchester this morning accompanied by the same bodyguard.

There was a heavy police presence at the conference as officers tried to avoid a repeat of two years ago when the event was marred by violence

Armed police have had a visible presence at the Tory party conference

A ring of steel has been put in place in Manchester. Thousands of protesters descended on the city today

BBC political editor Laura Kuennssberg arrived with her bodyguard to the Tory party conference today. The same protection officer accompanied her to the Labour conference last week

Officers on horseback stood guard in Manchester as protesters descended on the city

Protesters gathered outside the conference venue. They carried signs which included slogans such as, 'defy Tory rule' and 'Tories out'

Officers armed with sniper rifles have been pictured on rooftops near conference venues as Britain remains on high-alert following a series of terror threats.

Around 1,000 police officers are on duty in the city for the four-day event, which finishes on October 4, while an estimated 50,000 protesters will march on the city.

A 'ring of steel' has been set-up around the Manchester Central conference centre and Midland Hotel, where a number of delegates are staying.

Airport-style security checks, concrete blocks and road closures have been put in place to help counter the threat of any terror attack, while delegates have been urged to hide any lanyard passes when not inside the conference.

Entrances into the venue have been set up away from where protesters can shout abuse or intimidate some of the 12,000 delegates in just another example of the precautions being taken to stop intimidation from protesters.

Greater Manchester Police insists it has upgraded its security measures this year, known as Operation Protector to avoid ugly scenes which saw 15 arrests in three days in 2015.

Many protesters were marching against Brexit and austerity

Protesters carrying anti-Tory slogans descended on Manchester on Sunday. The Conservative Party conference is at the centre of a huge security effort

A £2million security operation has been put in place in a bid to help avoid a repeat of the last Tory visit to Manchester which was marred by scenes of angry protests

A 'ring of steel' has been set-up around the Manchester Central conference centre and Midland Hotel, where a number of delegates are staying

Smoke bombs were thrown as demonstrators chanted 'Let us out!' after police refused to let a van join the march route because it did not have security clearance

Senior officers have promised to take action against any protesters who 'cross the line'.

Ahead of the conference, Chief Superintendent John O'Hare, who is leading the operation, said: 'We have been really clear with protesters to say we are here to facilitate lawful, peaceful protest and will be doing everything can so they can exercise their right to free speech, to protest and express their opinion.

'But with that comes a degree of responsibility. There is a line between what's acceptable and what's not acceptable.

'When that line is crossed and it becomes more intimidatory behaviour and people are in fear or oppressed then at that point we will take action.'

Meanwhile, Brexit tensions threaten to overshadow the conference after Boris Johnson said the transition deal between Britain and the bloc should last 'not a second more' than two years.

His intervention ahead on the eve of the conference has been condemned by former education secretary and vocal Remain campaigner Nicky Morgan, who said people like Mr Johnson have 'no place in a responsible government'.

In an interview with the Sun, the former Mayor of London said: 'Am I impatient about it, do I want to get it done as fast as possible? Yes, absolutely. Do I want the delay to go on longer than two years? Not a second more.'

The conference is expected to pump in an estimated £30million into the Labour-controlled city, with 9,400 rooms across 91 hotels booked out for the four-day event.

The protests contained a large number of anti-Brexit campaigners

The conference is expected to pump in an estimated £30million into the Labour-controlled city, with 9,400 rooms across 91 hotels booked out for the four-day event

Armed police are also on the street as authorities say they will be visible throughout the event

Sniffer dogs and a police handler checked the main room of the Manchester Central convention centre as the country reels from recent terror attacks