Estimated 500,000 rally at anti-cuts march
Estimated 500,000 march in London against public sector cuts
Police say protest was overwhelmingly peaceful: nine arrests
Hardliners attack Top Shop and occupy Fortnum and Mason
Read our latest summary
Read our latest news story on the march
7.27pm: A Scotland Yard spokesman said five officers were injured during the protests.
Four were treated for minor injuries and one was taken to hospital with a groin injury, according to PA.
7.23pm: Labour leader Ed Miliband tonight condemned the violence which erupted away from the march, according to PA.
Hundreds of thousands of people peacefully protested today. They are the true voice of today's march. I unequivocally condemn those who have committed acts of violence. There is no excuse for it. It is unlawful and wrong.
Earlier the Labour leader addressed the rally saying that the marchers represented the opinion of the mainstream majority across the UK.
Our struggle is to fight to preserve, protect and defend the best of the services we cherish because they represent the best of the country we love.
We know what the Government will say: that this is a march of the minority. They are so wrong. David Cameron: you wanted to create the big society - this is the big society.
The big society united against what your Government is doing to our country. We stand today not as the minority, but as the voice of the mainstream majority in this country.
7.01pm: There are reports on Twitter that Lilly Whites is now on fire.
6.59pm: Paul Lewis has called in with a report of a fire in Piccadilly that appears to be getting out of control.
The fire is on Jermyn Street next to Piccadil! ly. It b egan about 15mins ago when clashes broke out between the police cordon and protesters. The protesters ripped up scaffolding and planks of wood, filled a waste bin and set it alight. That fire has now spread with flames reaching 11ft high, and from where I'm standing it looks like it is getting out of control. There's a thick plume of black smoke rising into the sky. I'm about 30ft away and can feel the heat from where I'm standing. Riot police have cleared the immediate vicinity but the whole area around Piccadilly is becoming something of a magnet for people looking to cause disruption. The situation is now getting dangerous.
You can see a photo of the fire here.
6.46pm: Met police saying that Fortnum and Mason is now being treated as a crime scene and threatening UKuncut with arrest.
6.40pm: My colleague Matthew Taylor has said that UKuncut have ended their occupation at Fortnum and Mason and are now being detained by police.
6.10pm: The Metropolitan police press office has said that today's march has been largely peaceful and well ordered, with a small number of violent disruptions and just nine arrests. This is the police statement:
Today's TUC March for the Alternative has been peaceful and well-stewarded. However, there have been a number of separate incidents including the throwing of missiles in the Oxford Street area and criminal damage in Shaftesbury Avenue. Police are on the scene and dealing with this.
There have been a small number of arrests made for various public order offences, criminal damage and violent disorder. We can confirm police have not advised businesses in central London to close.
6.00pm: Good evening and welcome to our continuing coverage of the March for the Alternative in London, and the aftermath. You can read our earlier live blog ! here.
Around 500,000 people have joined the anti-cuts march through central London. The figure was higher than originally hoped for by the organisers.
Police said the protest had been "peaceful and well-stewarded". But there have been a few clashes between police and activists not associated with the main march, and nine arrests have been made.
More than a dozen stores on Oxford Street were occupied by Ukuncut. The group has also occuplied the upscale department store Fortnum &
Mason. Riot police have set up a kettle around the area.
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