Placards at the public sector strike protests - in pictures

A demonstrator marches with a trade union placard featuring communities secretary Eric Pickles in central Manchester Photograph: Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty Images

Public sector workers gather outside city hall in Sheffield Photograph: Anna Gowthorpe/PA

A protester outside St Thomas' hospital in central London Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters

Pet dog Milo makes his point during a march in Liverpool Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

A protest sign stuck on a lamp post outside the central station in Belfast Photograph: Peter Muhly/AFP/Getty Images

A protester at a rally in Nottingham Photograph: David Sillitoe for the Guardian

Public sector workers take part in a march in Glasgow Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Six year old Raphael Timms-Hardy takes part in a march in central London Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

Public sector workers march through Southampton city centre Photograph: Chris Ison/PA

A protester on a march in London Photograph: Graeme Robertson for the Guardian

Protesters in central London Photograph: Graeme Robertson for the Guardian

A protester carries a placard in Liverpool Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

A protester at a rally in Nottingham Photograph: David Sillitoe for the Guardian

Teachers and public sector workers march in central London Photograph: Graeme Robertson for the Guardian