Manchester Town Hall was in lockdown this afternoon after masked anti-cuts protesters tried to storm the building.

Tactical Aid Unit officers were drafted in and portcullis-style shutters pulled down over both entrances at about 3.30pm as a group of demonstrators tried to gain access.

The protesters, who had earlier gathered to march through the city centre against cuts to homelessness funding, screamed ‘shame on you’ at police officers as they barricaded the doors on Lloyd Street.

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Council bosses are understood to be furious at the demonstration with insiders claiming the building had been damaged.

Several councillors were still barricaded in the building at 4.30pm.

Some bystanders told the M.E.N. the event was supposed to be a peaceful protest that had subsequently been hijacked.

Initially the march had begun in Piccadilly Gardens and moved through the streets, escorted by police officers.

At the town hall, several protesters tried to get into the town hall and police back-up was called.

One demonstrator held up a sign reading ‘you are only two paychecks from being homeless’ while later others – believed to be from the anti-cuts group Anonymous – moved round to the Albert Square entrance and erected a banner there.

Meanwhile, a pop-up soup kitchen for the homeless was also being set up in the square.

Anti-homelessness campaigner Wesley Hall told the M.E.N as he set up the kitchen: “It’s all part of the national march for the homeless so we are setting up a soup kitchen.

"A guy in Ireland started it and it’s spread so far now and it’s gone to all the major cities.

“We decided to bring it to Manchester because the council has cut millions for homelessness and mental health.

"We thought it was time to bring it to the town hall to tackle some direct action and raise awareness.”

Bez from the Happy Mondays made a speech at the start of the protest at Piccadilly Gardens - watch here:

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ACC Rebekah Sutcliffe from GMP, said: “Manchester has a history of supporting peaceful protest to enable members of our communities to raise issues in this way should they wish to do so.

“The organisers were given the opportunity to work with the police and the Local Authority to facilitate the demonstration, but did not take up this offer.

“Whilst the majority of people protesting were doing so in a peaceful manner, a number of individuals decided to go beyond this and began to participate in disorder which resulted in criminal damage to the Town Hall and a number of assaults.

“This is totally unacceptable behaviour and Greater Manchester Police and Manchester City Council will be working together to identify these individuals in order that they can be prosecuted.

“The actions of this small group have only gone towards undermining the issues which the majority of people demonstrating were trying to highlight.”