Thousands of anti-racism protesters take to streets to counter far-right rallies

Demonstrators form human shields in towns and cities across England, after 6,000 police drafted in to tackle disorder

Thousands of anti-racism protesters gathered across England and formed human shields to protect asylum centres after police warned of unrest from more than 100 far right-led rallies.

Holding placards saying refugees welcome" and reject racism, try therapy", people took to the streets in towns and cities nine days after the country was shaken by the fatal stabbing of three girls in Merseyside and the rioting that followed. But there was little sign of the unrest seen over the past week.