Coaches carrying anti-fascist protesters from London to a far-right rally in Kent were daubed Swastikas and left with smashed windows.

Police said one man was arrested after clashes at Maidstone services on the M20 today.

Witnesses said the coaches which were targeted had been carrying anti-fascist protesters from London who were travelling to Dover to stage a counter-protest to a far-right demonstration.

The rally, set to be held this afternoon, is expected to attract members of the National Front as well as other far-right groups.

Anti-fascist groups including Hope Not Hate were expected to greet the protesters.

Anti-fascist protester Anindya Bhattacharyya, 44, from Whitechapel, who was at the service station, told the Guardian: "The service station staff bolted the doors and through the windows we could see a large group of fascists,” he said. “They were wearing Combat 18 T-shirts and one had an Enoch Powell T-shirt.

“They were running at the anti-fascist demonstrators and there was some argy-bargy, things were chucked back and forth. And then the anti-fascists went back to their coaches and the group of fascists basically tooled up with bits of wood and bins.

“They attacked one of our coaches and smashed up the windows and one of them came and daubed a swastika in blood on the side of one of the coaches.”

A Kent Police spokesman said officers were called to Maidstone services just before 11am to reports of clashes.

He added: “A number of coaches have been damaged in the incident and officers are currently at the scene carrying out enquiries. Another coach that left the scene has been stopped by officers at the Junction 11 services and enquiries are also ongoing there.

“One man has been arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon.”

A witness tweeted: “Altercation at Maidstone service station. Coachload of Nazis turned up and smashed up one of our coaches.

"Me and a friend were stuck in the service station as it kicked off. Overheard a Nazi trying to explain to staff what the hell was going on."

Hackney North and Stoke Newington’s Labour MP Diane Abbott is among those who have travelled to Dover to join the protesters in a rally against the far-right activists.