Protestors gathered in the city centre

They have been charged with public order offences. The men are due in court later on Thursday and boy, 17, will appear at a later date.

They were arrested during a protest on Wednesday evening as the ministers attended a reception in Sheffield.

A police officer suffered a broken bone in her hand during the scuffles near the Winter Garden.

Police operation

Delegates from the world's richest nations are in Sheffield to discuss issues such as organised crime, attacking corruption in Africa and counter terrorism measures.

A police spokesman said the police operation had been successful and the conference, which lasts until Friday, had begun well.

Wednesday's protest was organised by Sheffield Stop the War Coalition.

Suzy Wylie from the coalition said: "We thought it was important that our voices should be heard and that we should be seen by the G8 ministers and last night we were.

"The most popular chant was 'G8 say drop bombs, we say drop the debt' which was what we wanted to get across to ministers - that they should fight poverty not war."

On Thursday, the ministers will hear a keynote speech from UK Home Secretary Charles Clarke.