Scottish journalists called yesterday for an end to a growing avalanche of abuse and intimidation targeting them from both sides of the independence debate.

The plea came a day after protesters descended on the BBC Scotland headquarters in Glasgow demanding the sacking of the corporation’s Tory political editor Nick Robinson, who aggressively challenged First Minister Alex Salmond during a press conference last week.

National Union of Journalists organiser Paul Holleran appealed for calm and said BBC workers were “working hard to hold politicians of all sides to account.”

He added that people in “prominent” positions within the Yes and No campaigns were partly to blame for fuelling the free-for-all.

“Robust debate is fine. Pointing out when journalists get their facts wrong is expected and welcomed,” he said.

“But NUJ members believe in a free press, a fair media, with journalists allowed to do their jobs free of intimidation.”