Thousands of people have gathered in central London to protest against plans to leave the European Union.

Demonstrators wearing EU flags as capes and with homemade banners saying "Bremain" and "We Love EU" gathered on the streets around Park Lane for the March for Europe rally.

Protesters taking part in the event, which was organised on social media, were due to march through London to Parliament Square.

The protest comes after a poll found that five per cent of Leave voters would now change their vote compared with two per cent of Remain voters and with nearly half the public, 48 per cent, demanding a general election before Brexit negotiations begin.

Comedian and satirist Mark Thomas organised the march to address his "anger, frustration and need to do something". He estimated between 20,000 and 40,000 people would be at the event.

He said: "We would accept the result of the referendum if it was fought on a level playing field. But it was full of misinformation and people need to do something with their frustration."

A cheer went up from the crowd at 11.30am as the marchers set off.

Father and daughter Bill Baker, 59, and Jess Baker, 22, from Islington, north London, had made a banner for the march which read: "I will always love EU."

Ms Baker said: "We didn't want to leave but if you respect the decision of the referendum, which we should, we still want Britain to be EU orientated, outward looking and inclusive."

I'm absolutely outraged at the way people voted, the lies the referendum was based on and the divide in the country because of it

Philippa Griffin, 40, from Hertfordshire, brought a French stick to celebrate Europe as her alternative to a protest banner.

She said: "I'm absolutely outraged at the way people voted, the lies the referendum was based on and the divide in the country because of it. My ideal outcome from this march is that MPs realise that leaving the EU is not what people truly want. It feels like our country has already changed."

Marie Sansford, 66, from Brighton, said she was against joining the European Union in the 1970s.

She said: "I feared that joining the EU would allow global companies to take over, which has happened to an extent. But being in the EU we can group together with other countries, be friends with our neighbours. I don't want to see the whole of Europe fall apart. I'm just very worried for future generations."

The March for Europe supporters launched into an impromptu rendition of John Lennon's Imagine, led by a man in the centre of the crowd with an EU flag painted on his forehead, armed with a megaphone and bouncing on a friend's shoulders.