THE BBC has defended its ­coverage of the referendum as "fair and impartial" after more than 1,000 Yes supporters demonstrated outside the broadcaster's headquarters over claims of bias in its reporting.

The protest was the latest in a series of demonstrations Yes voters have staged against the publicly funded broadcaster.

While police estimated yesterday's crowd at just in excess of 1,000, campaigners claimed the total was closer to 2,000.

No arrests were made and the march was said to have passed off with "no issues", according to Police Scotland.

The group gathered at George Square at 12.30pm before marching west towards the BBC Scotland headquarters on the Pacific Quay.

A line of police stood on the front steps of the building as the crowd listened to speeches and music outside.

Watch the video by Frederik Subei here -

Among those who took part in the demonstration was Dean Toner, 20, from Uddingston in North Lanarkshire.

He said: "It's a protest against the biased reporting the BBC have been taking part in. It's been a completely one-sided street, there's not been any coverage, proper true coverage, of the Yes campaign and it's not good enough any more."

Many demonstrators waved Saltires and lion rampant flags while some posted political ­rallying calls in reference to Thursday's vote.

Others protesters were calling on the BBC to fire its ­political editor Nick Robinson after a public altercation with Alex Salmond.

Jen Hughes, 17, from Prestwick, explained why she was voting Yes.

She said: "It's common sense. There's a lot of doubt but it's about being able to decide what we do with our money and having a say in representing ourselves, that's what it's about."

A BBC News report, written by Mr Robinson, said First Minister had failed to answer a question on major businesses expressing reservations over a Yes vote. Protesters have fervently claimed this assertion was inaccurate.

Campaigners have since set up an online petition calling for Mr Robinson's dismissal - which has attracted almost 16,000 signatures so far.

When asked over the weekend if the BBC's reporting was biased, Mr Salmond said: "Yes, absolutely. Of course it is...but they don't realise they're biased. It's the unconscious bias, which is the most extraordinary thing of all."

With just days left before Scotland goes to polls, members of the Better Together camp have questioned the protesters' decision to hold a rally against the BBC.

Glasgow South West Labour MP Ian Davidson said: "Yesterday it was the banks and some of the largest employers in Scotland.

"Today it's the BBC and MI5. In the world of Alex Salmond and his fellow nationalists, everybody is against them.

"If you aren't actively for them then you are against them. And if they think you are against them they go on the attack. When RBS announced plans to relocate their headquarters to London the nationalists didn't care about the risks to our economy. They spent all their time complaining about emails to journalists.

"When the retailers said prices would go up, the nationalists didn't care that families in Scotland would face higher costs. They spent all their time moaning about how the retailers spoke out.

"It's clear after today's protest that far from being a Scottish Broadcasting Service in a separate Scotland, the nationalists want a Salmond Broadcasting Service."

Tory MSP Alex Johnstone said: "I can't understand on the last weekend of campaigning why so many Yes supporters would spend their time in this way. The paranoia in recent days surrounding the BBC has been quite incredible."

A BBC spokesman said: "We believe our coverage has been fair and impartial and has adhered fully to the requirements of our Editorial and Referendum Guidelines."