Vienna (AFP) - Police in Vienna arrested more than 30 people as thousands protested against a ball organised by far-right groups and politicians.

Several thousand people flooded into central Vienna to denounce the "Akademikerball" ("Academics' Ball") at the former imperial winter palace, the Hofburg.

Most of the protesters marched calmly amid heavy police presence.

The ball -- part of Vienna's traditional ball season which is currently in full swing -- is organised by the far-right, eurosceptic and anti-immigration Freedom Party (FPOe), the third-largest in parliament.

In previous years other European far-right figures have attended including France's Marine Le Pen.

This year a number of Viennese taxi drivers clubbed together using Facebook to boycott the ball and refuse to take participants to the event.

Last year's event led to scuffles between police and militants which left 20 people injured.