There were chants of "protect women not statues", according to journalist Sian Bradley.

"It's sad to say, but women are being failed by a woman in charge", one person said.

Banners in the crowd said “Men your silence is deafening” and “Cressida you’re a woman too”, while protesters shouted: “Sisters united will never be defeated.”

Shadow justice secretary David Lammy said the party cannot support a bill that would lead to harsher penalties for damaging a statue than attacking a woman.

It comes ahead of a crucial vote on a policing bill in the Commons in the wake of the Sarah Everard vigil.

"The last thing the Police need is more powers at this time", the former Labour leader said.

"It is an ideological assault by the Conservative government that has left our younger generations the victims," Scotland's further education secretary said.

Serious blood clotting has been recorded after inoculations in Norway.

Last month it was found that every single one of the 246 prosecutions launched under the draconian law has been overturned.