These are the dramatic scenes outside Harrods today as protesters gather at the famous London store in a dispute over workers' tips.

Demonstrators have taken to the streets of Knightsbridge this afternoon after furious staff claimed Harrods keeps up to 75% of their tips, reports the Daily Mirror .

Carrying signs reading "Stop stealing our tips", the protesters are demanding that 100 per cent of the restaurant service charge is handed to employees.

At present, restaurant and cafe workers are losing out on up to £5,000 worth of tips, the United Voices of the Worlds union (UVW) claims.

The protest comes after claims about how much of tips Harrods keeps. (Photo: WENN).

Employees have reportedly joined members of the union as they continue to protest outside the luxury department store.

Photos of the demonstration show red smoke rising into the air, while protesters carry enormous banners and police officers stand guard.

According to reports from social media, some of the demonstrators have been heard chanting: "Harrods! Harrods! You're so rich, stealing all your workers tips!"

Speaking from the scene, Petras Elia, general secretary of the union, said: "We're here protesting today at Harrods. It's the first of what could be a long string of protests until Harrods stops stealing the tips from their waiters.

Red smoke rises into the air as emotions run high. (Photo: WENN).

"At the moment, the service charge, which is added to bills and which diners pay, comes to about £3.5million per year more or less...

"Of that £3.5million, more or less, Harrods keeps around 75%. So £2.5-£2.75million a year, which should be going to their chefs and waiters, and where the diners think the money is actually going, actually ends up in the pockets of the Qatari Royal Family.

"They're the family which owns Harrods. It's a disgrace that that's happening. Harrods aren't the only ones, other restaurants are known to be taking tips as well, but that doesn't make it any better.

"Harrods should know better, Harrods has got all the money in the world, they don't need to take the service charge which is left to the waiters and the chefs.

"We're demanding that they stop that practice, we're demanding that 100 per cent of the service charge goes to the workers, goes to the people who actually do the serving."

People have been taking to social media to describe the scenes outside Harrods.

One Twitter user claimed that employees at the world-renowned store have been involved in "scuffles" with protesters, forcing police to intervene.

Transport for London have warned drivers that there is a partial lane restriction on A4 Brompton Road, saying: "Approach with caution."

Harrods uses a ‘tronc’ scheme to manage the distribution of the restaurant service charge, according to Metro.co.uk.

A spokesperson for the store told the news site: "We can confirm that, like many businesses in the hospitality sector, Harrods operates a Tronc system on behalf of its employees.

"Harrods is taking steps to improve the current system through which it distributes its service charge, to ensure it best serves our employees and is completing a detailed review into the existing scheme. As this is an on-going review, we are unable to provide further details on the distribution.

"However, employees will be informed of the details of the new system as soon as the review is complete. The Tronc system manages the distribution of the service charge only.

"Employees are not required to accept any deduction in their salary in order to participate in the Tronc system and this will remain the case with the new system."

Harrods has been approached for comment.

Keep up to date with the latest news in west London via the free getwestlondon app.

You can even set it to receive push notifications for all the breaking news in your area.

Available to download from the App Store or Google Play for Android now!