Thousands protest in London against leaving the EU

Thousands of people on Saturday took to the streets of London to protest against plans for Britain to leave the European Union, just four days before Prime Minister Theresa May launches the formal divorce process from the 27 member bloc it joined 44 years ago.

The Unite for Europe march which saw many people carrying and waving bright blue EU flags, and banners with slogans like "So what's the Plan" and "Stop Brexit" ended with a rally in Parliament Square, scene of last week's Westminster attack in which four people were killed and dozens wounded.

The protesters observed a minute's silence in memory of the victims at the start of the demonstration.
One banner from a marcher in Hastings on the south coast - scene read: "Hastings, in Europe since 1066."
Another simply said "Happy Birthday EU" in a reference to this weekend's 60th anniversary of the bloc's founding.

A similar but smaller anti-Brexit protest march was also held in Edinburgh, Scotland.