Protesters who took part in Saturday's rally against Government spending cuts say they hope it delivered the right message despite some outbreaks of violence.

Hundreds of policemen and women, firefighters, council employees and other public sector workers from the county, as well as pensioners, students and children, joined the march in central London.

Up to 500,000 people took part in the demonstration, organised by the TUC.

Leicester Unison branch chairman Janet McKenna, who travelled down with more than 400 supporters from the city, said: "We didn't see any of the trouble.

"It's disappointing to see the front pages focusing on the violence, which distracted a little bit from the point we were trying to make.

"But we were really pleased we managed to get so many people from Leicester. I think every walk of life was represented."

Sarah Russell and Andy Connelly, Labour councillors for Leicester Westcotes ward, and their children, Ryan, seven, and Ella, five, took part.

Councillor Russell said: "We felt it was important to go and stand alongside all those other people to say we think things should be done differently.

"We talked the children through what was going on. We talked to them about schools and families and jobs and they wanted to come. They were so excited by it all.

"There was such great camaraderie and what we saw was all very friendly.

"It was spoiled by the people who wanted to make trouble."

Chris Hanrahan, of Unison's Leicestershire police branch, went with about 40 supporters.

He said: "For us it was very successful and peaceful.

"We were at the front of the march. It was overwhelming to see the amount of people."

Mother-of-two Carole Plummer, of Wigston, an administrator for Leicestershire police, said: "It was my first protest and I really enjoyed being there with all the nurses, firefighters and teachers.

"I wouldn't normally take part in something such as this but I feel so strongly about the cuts.

"It's people's livelihoods they're messing with."

Leicestershire firefighters also took part in the march.

Steel bands, choirs and dancers performed at the head of the march as the demonstrators waited patiently to march to Hyde Park.

Violence erupted away from the rally, where a group of hundreds of people set off fireworks, threw paint and attacked shops in Oxford Street, Regent Street and Piccadilly.

More than 200 arrests were made and some police officers were injured.