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Protesters smashed up a branch of Foxtons and stormed Lambeth Town Hall in a "reclaim Brixton" demonstration today.

Tear gas was also deployed by police after a "small group" of protesters entered Brixton police station and refused to leave, Scotland Yard said.

The glass shop front of estate agents Foxtons in Brixton Road was completely shattered, with graffiti daubed on some of the property adverts.

Police said one man was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.

The store was targeted after a small number of demonstrators found their way into the the town hall. They were ejected by police and no arrests were made.

More than 1,000 people took part in the "reclaim Brixton" march this afternoon, which wound its way through the streets of the trendy south London area.

The mostly peaceful event was organised as a demonstration against Brixton's "gentrification".

The news editor of Brixton Blog, 27-year-old Anna McKie, was at the scene.

She said: "They completely smashed one of the windows at Foxtons and police are guarding it now.

"They have written 'yuppies out' on the window which isn't smashed.

She added: "It was such a nice vibe earlier and now it's not. There are lots of angry people. I don't think anybody was expecting there to be smashed windows.

"People are grumbling about how bad it will make Brixton look, but then there are a lot of people who are still chanting outside Foxtons."

The event had been organised by residents who say they are being driven out by soaring rents as well as house prices and regeneration schemes.

They came together after mounting campaigns against social housing evictions on local estates, as well as the ongoing battle to save the railway arches around Brixton station.

Foxtons being reminded we don't like evictions in brixton #reclaimbrixton pic.twitter.com/K4GR1fCLj8 — HASL (@HousingActionSL) April 25, 2015

Jack Dean, 29, from Housing Action Southwark and Lambeth, said: "We were all at the town hall, outside the front.

"Some people started to move round the back of the town hall and I think quite a lot of them made it in."

He added: "I didn't see [the Foxton’s window] being smashed but by the time I got there it was shattered."

Mr Dean said that the property damage had to be "put in context".

He said: "If that level of disruption and damage incenses you then what about the eviction of hundreds of people from their homes, which can often be quite violent?”

Many took to Twitter to say the event had been mostly peaceful. One social media user, Miss South, tweeted that she was "furious" the vandalism would overshadow the positive aspects.

Furious that Foxtons Brixton has had their window smashed. Not because I like Foxtons at all but allows #ReclaimBrixton to be devalued — Miss South (@northsouthfood) April 25, 2015

@Rose_E_Cook @standardnews So what if a window did get smashed. Maybe then, these people will understand what pain they cause. — Lucios Bravo (@UKElection007) April 25, 2015

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "At approximately 3.15pm a group from the demonstration gained access to Brixton Town Hall. Officers entered the building and the protesters were removed. There were no arrests.

"A group of protesters then made their way to Brixton Road where the window of a commercial premises was smashed and graffiti sprayed on the building.

"One man has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage in relation to this incident.



"At approximately 16.10pm a small group of protesters entered Brixton Police Station. They were removed by local officers - CS spray was deployed."

Following the incident, pictures on social media showed officers in riot gear stood apparently guarding the station.

Speaking before the Foxtons and town hall clashes, Zoe Jewell, 29, the editor of Brixton Blog, told the Standard that the event had been very positive.

She said it was organised out of anger at developers and Lambeth Council, rather than individuals who may have moved into the area.

"It is not like a 'yuppies out' thing," she said.

"It's the people who live here against the power of money and developers.

"It's about making sure everyone can live here and it's a united community. It's been a really positive event."

An organiser, who wished to remain anonymous and was also speaking earlier, said: "People who have been here for 10 years or more are being forced out.

"We just hit a point where people said we've got to get together and do something."

A different group, the London Black Revs, also held a separate protest through Brixton Village market today, claiming it is no longer owned and used by residents.