Thousands of social care workers took to the streets of London in protest at the massive spending cuts affecting the sector, which one campaigner described as potentially "catastrophic" to communities. 

Coach-loads of union activists came from all over Britain, some setting off as early as 4am, in a massive show of support for the TUC-organised rally. Giant purple and white inflated spheres, courtesy of Unison and Unite, added colour to the event as cries of 'Stop the Cuts' and 'We are the Tory haters' filled the air. 

Organisers put the turn-out at an estimated half a million, making it the biggest public demonstration in the UK since the Iraq war march in 2003.