Sir Paul McCartney has taken part in the March for Our Lives event in New York, saying that part of the reason he did so was because "one of my best friends was killed in gun violence right around here."

Sir Paul was referring to his fellow Beatles member John Lennon, who was shot and killed by Mark David Chapman outside the entrance to the Dakota apartment building in Manhattan on 8 December 1980.

Wearing a shirt emblazoned with the phrase "We can end gun violence," Sir Paul said that what happened to Lennon means the issue is "important to me".

The music star was one of 175,000 people to take part in the New York event, according to a tweet from the city's mayor Bill de Blasio. The march was itself one of more than 800 events scheduled to take place around the world on Saturday, including the anchor event in Washington DC.

When asked whether actions such as the nationwide marches will make a difference in securing more gun control, Sir Paul told CNN: "I don't know." But he added that it is "what we can do, so I am here to do it."

March for Our Lives – in pictures Show all 13 1 /13 March for Our Lives – in pictures March for Our Lives – in pictures Demonstrators chant during the protest for gun legislation and school safety AP March for Our Lives – in pictures Trevon ‘Tre’ Bosley, 19, of Chicago, the brother of Terrell Bosley who was killed in 2006 in a case of mistaken identity, speaks during the rally AP March for Our Lives – in pictures Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Delaney Tarr speaks at the rally AFP/Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures Protestors line the streets in Washington Getty Images March for Our Lives – in pictures People arrive for the March For Our Lives rally against gun violence in Washington, DC AFP/Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures Protestors carrying placards in Washington AFP/Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures Protestors hold up placards in Washington AFP/Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures Schoolchildren wear targets ahead of the rally Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures Attendees congregate in preparation for the march Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures Students brought a host of innovative placards AFP/Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures The movement’s main demand is the banning of assault rifles Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures Since the Florida shooting, students have called for urgent gun reform AFP/Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures In the wake of the Florida attack, President Donald Trump called for teachers to be armed AFP/Getty

The focal point was the March for Our Lives rally in Washington DC, but tens of thousands turned out in cities such as New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and Minneapolis in demonstrations sparked by the survivors of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on Valentine’s Day. Beyond America - where there were about 800 events - there were protests in London, Belfast, Geneva and a number of other cities across the globe.