Thousands of people have taken to the streets across western America to protest against Donald Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton in the US presidential election.

Cities in California, Oregon and Washington all witnessed angry demonstrations, with objects being set alight and effigies burned.

Up to 1,500 people gathered at the University of California in Los Angeles in the early hours to express their anger and sadness at the shock result.

Elsewhere in the state, tyres and rubbish trucks were reportedly set alight and windows smashed as Californians, who overwhelmingly backed Ms Clinton, reacted to the news that Mr Trump looked set to become their next president.

Some marched through the city chanting anti-Trump slogans. A crown at the University of California Santa Barbara shouted: “Not my president. Not my president.”, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Protester N.J. Omorogieva told the newspaper she was “heartbroken” by the result, saying she joined the demonstration “to give hugs to people who were overcome by devastation”.

President Trump protests Show all 20 1 /20 President Trump protests President Trump protests Patrons hold a sign as people march by while protesting the election of Republican Donald Trump as the president of the United States in downtown Los Angeles, California Reuters President Trump protests Demonstrators rally following the election of Republican Donald Trump as President of the United States, in Oakland, California Reuters President Trump protests Demonstrators march following the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States Reuters President Trump protests Thousands of protesters rallied across the United States expressing shock and anger over Donald Trump's election, vowing to oppose divisive views they say helped the Republican billionaire win the presidency AFP/Getty Images President Trump protests Demonstrators protest outside the Chicago Theatre in Chicago, Illinois Getty President Trump protests A police officer aims a launcher after demonstrators threw projectiles toward a line of officers during a demonstration in Oakland, California Reuters President Trump protests An officer examines a vandalized police vehicle as demonstrators riot in Oakland, California Reuters President Trump protests Demonstrators take over the Hollywood 101 Freeway just north of Los Angeles City Hall in protest against the election of Republican Donald Trump as President of the United States Reuters President Trump protests A woman holds up a sign reading 'Trump you are an Idiot' as demonstrators gather during a protest against President-elect Donald Trump outside the City Hall building in Los Angeles, California EPA President Trump protests A masked demonstrator gestures toward a police line during a demonstration in Oakland, California Reuters President Trump protests Demonstrators protest against the election of Republican Donald Trump as President of the United States, near the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Las Vegas, Nevada Reuters President Trump protests Musician Lagy Gaga stages a protest against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on a sanitation truck outside Trump Tower in New York City Getty President Trump protests A woman yells as she takes part in a protest against President-elect Donald Trump in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood AP President Trump protests A man dressed in red-white-and-blue sits on the curb during a protest against President-elect Donald Trump in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood AP President Trump protests A protester sets off fireworks during a protest against President-elect Donald Trumpin Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood AP President Trump protests University of California, Davis students protest on campus in Davis, California, U.S. following the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States Reuters President Trump protests An Oakland police officer checks out damage after a window was broken by protesters at a car dealership in downtown Oakland, Calif AP President Trump protests A protester faces a police line in downtown Oakland, Calif AP President Trump protests President-elect Donald Trumpís victory set off multiple protests AP President Trump protests A fire burns during protests in Oakland, Calif AP

Videos uploaded to social media showed hundreds of people in Los Angeles chanting “We will be all right.”

One person can be seen carrying a Mexico flag, an apparent protest against Mr Trump’s pledge to clamp down on Mexican immigration to the US by building a wall along the border. The new President-elect has previously said Mexican immigrants are “rapists” who are bringing “drugs and crime” into the USA.

In Oakland, just outside San Francisco, protesters reportedly smashed a window at offices of the Oakland Tribune newspaper and set fire to vehicles and tyres. Effigies of Mr Trump were also burned.

A fire burns during protests in Oakland, California (AP)

One demonstrator was taken to hospital with “major injuries” after reportedly being hit by a car.

In nearby San Diego, 500 students marched across their campus, shouting: “F*** Donald Trump”.

And in New York, singer Lady Gaga staged a protest outside Trump Towers by standing on top of a sewage truck and holding a sign reading “Love trumps hate”.

Fireworks were set off by protesters in Seattle, Washington, while demonstrations also took place in the cities of Portland and Eugene in Oregon.

In other areas, however, Trump supporters gathered to celebrate their victory. Around 30 people headed to Mr Trump’s star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood, where they chanted “This is our president” as counter-protestors looked on.

A protester sets off fireworks during a protest against President-elect Donald Trump in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood (AP)

Outside the White House, too, Republican supporters gathered to rejoice at Mr Trump’s election victory.

The protests are a sign of the deep divisions that were exposed during a long and bitter election campaign that saw the electorate deeply polarised along social, ethnic and geographical lines.