Thousands March In Anti-Austerity Protests

Tens of thousands of people have marched across the country in demonstrations against austerity and spending cuts.

Singer Charlotte Church and comedian Russell Brand were among those who addressed the London protest, alongside Len McCluskey, general secretary of Unite, Labour leadership contender Jeremy Corbyn and Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness.

Organisers estimated that 250,000 people took part in the march from the Bank of England to Westminster. Police would not give an estimate.

A spokesman for the People's Assembly, which organised the protest, said: "It is clear this march has exceeded all expectations.

"Even the police are estimating that there are 'several hundred thousand' marching.

"Today is not the end of our campaign against austerity but the start of a mass movement prepared to take on this Government."

Church, brandishing an End Austerity Now placard, told Sky News austerity was "unethical".

She was cheered as she told the crowd: "What this country needs is economic stimulation - most economists around the world would say the same.

"We need to get the blood pumping."

Protesters, led by a brass band trio, chanted their opposition to the new Tory Government and its plans for billions of pounds of cuts as they marched through central London.

The demonstrations are the first major public protests since David Cameron was re-elected in May.

One protester carried a placard showing Mr Cameron peeking out of a garbage can, while another showed him with devil's horns.

Red flares were let off shortly after the march and more flares were fired as the booing crowd passed Downing Street.

Organisers had promised a "festival atmosphere" and it seemed to be a good-natured protest for the most part. The Met Police said no one was arrested.

At the end of the march, Mr McGuinness told the rally: "It is David Cameron's cabinet of millionaires - they are the people who are the real spongers."

Mr McCluskey, of the Unite union, told the crowd: "Our fight goes on to protect our communities, to defend the vulnerable, to expose spivs and speculators and tax avoiders."

After addressing the campaigners, Mr Corbyn told Sky News austerity would "end up deflating and reducing the economy".

"Surely we need to think again and start to invest in our economy and invest in people," he said.

There were also rallies in Liverpool, Glasgow and Bristol.

Police estimated 1,000 people took part in the march in Glasgow, while hundreds of demonstrators braved the rain to march through the centre of Liverpool.

Activists walked behind a large banner which read "#NOUGH IS #NOUGH" and chanted: "They say cut back, we say fight back".

Organisers had hoped up to 600 people would take part in Liverpool, but the figure was reportedly closer to 250 to 300.