Thousands march against spending cuts - in pictures

The march sets off from Embankment Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty

A boy holds a placard protesting about education cuts Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty

The shadow chancellor, Ed Balls, meets protesters Photograph: Carl Court/AFP

Hundreds of thousands took part in the Trades Union Congress organised march to Hyde Park Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

Two protesters wearing David Cameron and Nick Clegg masks make themselves heard while passing the Houses of Parliament Photograph: Facundo Arrizabalaga/EPA

Demonstrators assemble near Waterloo Bridge before the march Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA

Protesters march through Westminster carrying banners and placards Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters

Demonstrators from the Unite union march along the Embankment Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty

Ed Miliband arrives to address the rally in Hyde Park Photograph: Kevin Coombs/Reuters

Police officers are splashed with paint in Oxford Street Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters

Labour leader Ed Miliband addresses the rally Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty

Security staff barricade the paint-splattered doors of Topshop Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty

Ed Miliband addresses the rally in Hyde Park. He called for united action against the cuts Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

Masked demonstrators attack a police van in Oxford Street Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters

Former Labour politician Tony Benn listens to the speeches at the Hyde Park rally Photograph: Kevin Coombs/Reuters

Demonstrators break windows at the Ritz hotel Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters

An aerial view of the mass rally in Hyde Park. Around 500,000 protesters attended the march and rally Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty

Members of the public carry flags and placards to express their opposition to public spending cuts Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty

A protester attempts to smash the window of a branch of HSBC with a brick Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA

Two ladies stand by as a group break away from the peaceful protesters and start to vandalise properties Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty

Protesters smash the windows of the Cambridge Circus branch of HSBC Photograph: Jonathan Hordle/Rex

A woman dressed as a clown jokes with police Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Demonstrators throw a table at a window of the Ritz hotel Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters

Protesters on the TUC's March for the Alternative listen to speeches at the Hyde Park rally Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA

Riot police and protesters clash at Oxford Circus Photograph: Ian Langsdon/EPA

A masked protester throws a yellow smoke bomb during the march Photograph: Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images

Police help two women off a bus trapped on Oxford Street Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA

Police guard Fortnum and Mason on Piccadilly while a protester climbs on the balcony of the shop Photograph: Paul Hackett/Reuters

A couple dressed as caricatures of David Cameron and Margaret Thatcher make scissor shapes with their hands Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

Police officers and protesters clash on Piccadilly Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Protesters' placards are used to create a piece of art Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA

Disguised protesters occupy Fortnum and Mason. UKUncut staged a sit-in protest at the shop Photograph: Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images

Police officers stand in Fortnum and Mason after protesters stormed the shop Photograph: Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images

Officers take cover as protesters throw missiles at them Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA

A protester sits next to a bonfire of discarded placards in Hyde Park Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

Protesters lit fires made of rubbish in several streets in the West End of London Photograph: Felix Clay