The German Chancellor phoned the Spanish Prime Minister earlier today after apparent scenes of police brutality in attempting to stop the referendum going ahead were scene around the world, according to a report by the German newspaper Die Welt.

However, the Spanish conservative government has denied there were any violent scenes with the Vice President Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría saying the police did not use disproportionate force in their attempts to prevent the vote.

Ms Santamaría said “actions were taken against electoral material, never against people.”