NATIONAL Front and anti-fascist demonstrators angrily faced each other during a potentially explosive stand-off.

The two sides, kept apart by around 100 police officers, hurled abuse at each other and chanted slogans during an hour-long confrontation in Chatham on Saturday.

A Medway anti-fascist, who did not want to be named, said: "The National Front want to link their brand of hatred to the bombings of July 7.

"But the people of Medway don’t believe their lies."

About 30 members of the extreme right-wing group had come into the town to hold a rally at the Victoria Gardens bandstand after Home Secretary Charles Clarke banned their planned march.

They were greeted by 50 to 100 counter-demonstrators who hurled chants of "Nazi scum" as soon as they arrived.

Police prevented the confrontation spilling into violence by keeping tight control of both factions, keeping them at least 50 yards apart in the park.

In the massive police operation, at least 100 officers could be seen in the park, with 12 vans, and three police dogs were also used to keep order.

A crowd of counter-demonstrators had gathered at the main entrance of Chatham railway station to confront their political enemies.

But the NF group were steered away through a station side entrance by police and escorted to the park.

They were also taken from the park past the rival group, which was kept firmly back by a line of officers.

The counter-demonstration was organised by United Against Fascism but consisted of various local anti-racist and racial equality groups and trade unionists.

UAF secretary Sabby Dhalu said: "We would have preferred it if they hadn’t come to the Medway Towns at all, but letting them march would have been even worse."