By Agency Reports
Thousands of people descended on London’s Hyde Park on Saturday afternoon in the latest round of protests against Covid lockdown measures.
The crowds marched through Oxford Street before gathering at Hyde Park while holding banners, placards and flags.
Demonstrators also made their way to Downing Street, with crowds setting off flares and chanting loudly with people heard shouting “shame on you” and pointing towards Number 10, followed by prolonged booing.
Shirley Jones, a librarian from Crystal Palace, said: “I’d rather be doing something else with my weekend but I’m going to keep coming on these protests because I don’t trust what the Government is doing.
“I don’t believe in wearing masks and I don’t believe in the vaccine, especially given my Caribbean heritage and the history of slavery.
Meanwhile, hundreds of anti-establishment activists have clashed with police in central London on Bonfire Night.
Eight officers were injured and 12 people arrested on Friday, the Metropolitan Police said.
Protesters wearing Guy Fawkes-style masks gathered at Trafalgar Square, with some throwing fireworks at police.
A crowd watched an effigy of Prime Minister Boris Johnson being burned, with one member shouting “burn, Boris, burn”.
The rally, which is known as the Million Mask March, then moved to Parliament Square where they faced police wearing protective gear.
Many of the demonstrators held signs protesting against the coronavirus lockdown, while some were seen setting off fireworks and using laser pointers.
One, who gave his name only as Richard, from London, said the protest, which has taken place on 5 November for several years, was a “continuation” of the “anti-Covid” marches.
“It’s basically a continuation of the anti-Covid marches that we’ve been on since the beginning of the year,” he said.
“It’s a couple of fingers in the direction of the establishment.”