Anti-cuts protesters who attended the rally in London on Saturday have hit out at anarchists for hijacking media attention away from their action.

Labour Party members from the Chippenham and Devizes constituencies were among up to half a million people who marched under the TUC banner at the weekend.

Christine Jenkins, a spokesman for the Devizes Labour Party, said the atmosphere on the march was good-natured and positive.

She said: “I did see some people, later identified to me as anarchists, dressed in red and black, holding a march parallel to ours.

“I didn’t see any of the violence but we are all upset at the way it has detracted from the main point of the march, which was to draw attention to the government’s deep and savage cuts to jobs, help for families and public services.

Mrs Jenkins said: “I have never taken part in a march in my life before but I was so incensed at what is happening. We think this Tory-led government have got it wrong for Britain.

“They’ve put up VAT, their NHS reform risks privatising our health service by the back door, and their cuts are threatening jobs. At the same time, they’re letting the bankers get away with billions in bonuses.”