Thousands of people have marched through London to protest against the referendum decision to leave the European Union.

Demonstrators at the “March for Europe” rally, organised on social media, held placards saying “Bremain” and “We Love EU”.

Demonstrators gathered around Park Lane before setting off for Parliament Square. A rally also took place in York.

One of the organisers of the London march, Keiran MacDermott, said they hoped to stop the government from triggering Article 50, which begins the formal process of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

At the end of the two-mile route, protesters gathered in front of the Parliament and listened to speakers including Labour parliamentarian, David Lammy, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron, left-wing commentator and activist, Owen Jones and musician Bob Geldof.

Geldof urged Bremain campaigners to take to the streets, speak to their neighbours and work to stop the UK’s exit from the EU.

“We need to individually organise ourselves. Organise those around us and do everything possible within our individual power to stop this country being totally destroyed,” he said.

There is no official turn-out figure for this protest but there must have been several thousand at least on the streets around Hyde Park corner.

The protest was organised hastily, with a call put out on social media less than a week ago.

There were placards, signs and banners expressing anger and resentment at the way the Leave campaign was conducted but also frustration at what’s seen as a lack of clear leadership in the aftermath of the vote.