SEVERAL supporters of Tommy Robinson have been arrested following clashes after he was jailed for contempt of court last Friday.

Dozens of protesters gathered in the street yesterday outside the Old Bailey ahead of the sentencing of the English Defence League founder, amid a heavy police presence.

The crowd was noticeably smaller than those which formed outside the court during his two-day contempt hearing on Thursday and Friday last week.

City of London Police said they arrested three people outside the court and another in Westminster following Robinson's sentencing on Thursday, but that the alleged offences were committed on Friday 5 July.

The force also confirmed four other arrests were made last Friday.

In a statement, the force said: "The City of London Police have made eight arrests in relation to offences committed on Friday July 5 outside the Central Criminal Court.

"On Friday July 5, four men aged 34, 44, 52 and 60 were arrested for affray.

"On Thursday July 11, a woman aged 28 and two men aged 60 and 50 were arrested for affray. One woman aged 61 was arrested for a public order offence."

Robinson's hearing was delayed by about 10 minutes after he was mobbed by supporters amid chaotic scenes as he arrived at the Old Bailey with far-right media commentator Katie Hopkins.

Mr Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, split opinions in Barrow after his visit to the town on Thursday May 16.

During his visit to Furness, there was a tense stand-off between political activists as he addressed dozens of people outside the Barrow Town Hall.

The protest group against Mr Robinson's Barrow appearance was made up of representatives from various organisations including Barrow Trades Union Council, Unite Against Fascism and Furness College Students' Union.