Torrential rain overnight may prove to be the policeman's best friend, as the east of Scotland was drenched last night and a continuous heavy rain at first light will probably have dampened the spirits of any protestors who were having second thoughts about joining the pre-dawn demonstrations.
Sources last night were indicating that the first attempt at a blockade would take place outside Stirling, with anti-G8 activists trying to close down both the A9 towards Gleneagles and the train line itself. The purpose of this would not be to stop the eight leaders themselves, who are arriving by air at Prestwick airport later today, but their support staff arriving from Glasgow and Stirling.
Early unconfirmed reports are of skirmishes outside Stirling between police and protestors, and demonstrators being held under section 60 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act.
This attempted blockade, it should be stressed, is the unofficial part of today's events – a formal, and approved, march from Auchterarder to the gates of Gleneagles takes place at midday, with 5,000 permitted, but many more expected.
Meanwhile, what is definite is the police have closed the M9 outside Stirling at junction 8. There are also police spotters on the motorway bridges and various industrial estates and office blocks on the way out of Edinburgh sealed off by lines of officers.
