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Up to 30,000 people today joined an anti-Brexit rally in the heart of London calling the UK to stay in the EU.

Protesters waved placards carrying slogans including “We heart EU” and “We want Breturn” as the huge crowds marched from Hyde Park to Parliament Square.

Organisers of the “March for Europe” demo said the event was a rallying cry for those who did not wish to “accept the referendum as the final say”.

Protester Mark Thomas, a comedian and satirist, said the march addressed “anger, frustration and need to do something”.

He said: "We would accept the result of the referendum if it was fought on a level playing field.

Anti-Brexit 'March for Europe' protest 10 show all Anti-Brexit 'March for Europe' protest 1/10 Organiser estimated up to 30,000 people attended the central London rally PA 2/10 Thousands parade through the streets of the capital for the anti-Brexit march PA 3/10 Pro-EU protesters painted their faces in the colours of the union's flag PA 4/10 Demonstrators held placards expressing their support for the European Union PA 5/10 Some placards were more imaginative than others PA 6/10 Bob Geldof was among famous faces to address demonstrators at Parliament Square PA 7/10 Lib Dem leader Tim Farron also addressed crowds during the rally Getty 8/10 The route from Hyde Park to Westminster passed major London landmarks including Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square Getty/AFP 9/10 Demonstrators attached an EU balloon to the statue of Winston Churchill outside Parliament PA 10/10 Some demonstrators had digs at the politicians behind the UK's Leave campaign, including now Tory leadership hopeful Michael Gove PA 1/10 Organiser estimated up to 30,000 people attended the central London rally PA 2/10 Thousands parade through the streets of the capital for the anti-Brexit march PA 3/10 Pro-EU protesters painted their faces in the colours of the union's flag PA 4/10 Demonstrators held placards expressing their support for the European Union PA 5/10 Some placards were more imaginative than others PA 6/10 Bob Geldof was among famous faces to address demonstrators at Parliament Square PA 7/10 Lib Dem leader Tim Farron also addressed crowds during the rally Getty 8/10 The route from Hyde Park to Westminster passed major London landmarks including Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square Getty/AFP 9/10 Demonstrators attached an EU balloon to the statue of Winston Churchill outside Parliament PA 10/10 Some demonstrators had digs at the politicians behind the UK's Leave campaign, including now Tory leadership hopeful Michael Gove PA

"But it was full of misinformation and people need to do something with their frustration."

Musician Jarvis Cocker recorded a special message for the tens of thousands who attended the event, which began at about 11am and continued into the afternoon.

In the message filmed in a recording studio in Paris, the Pulp frontman held up a world map and said: "You cannot deny geography. The UK is in Europe. How can you take it out?"

TV presenter Billie Piper also addressed the thronged crowds in Parliament Square, saying: “We're all entitled to an opinion. We're all angry and we're all scared and, quite frankly, some of us are ashamed.

"We have been eager to show the rest of the world that the decision does not speak for all of us.

"The horrific violence and terrifying hate crime might have happened on British soil but those attitudes are not British.”

From the stage set up yards from the Houses of Parliament, Labour peer Michael Cashman told the crowd: "No more lies, no more hate.

"We need to uphold the values of democracy and inclusiveness which are at the heart of the EU and this country.

"We must not let right-wing, narrow-minded nationalism nor xenophobia define us. We are better than that.”

Protester William Dramard, 36, moved from France to Manchester to study 16 years ago.

A home-made placard represented his French roots, his Finnish wife, their English bull mastiff dog and the European Union.

The engineer, who travelled to London alone for the rally, said: "My family exists thanks to the EU.

"One of the reasons my wife and I came here was because of freedom of movement. We met here and started our life together here. This is what we consider to be our home now."

Mathilda Fell, 14, is marching with her parents. The aspiring human rights lawyer from London fears her dreams of studying at university in Belgium or Holland might be thwarted by an EU exit.

She said: "I feel really let down that my voice, and the voice of young people, hasn't been heard in the referendum. It's my future that's going to be affected."

Additional reporting by PA