A million march for women's rights across the world

Credit: PA

More than a million people have marched in cities across the world for women's rights, which organisers believe are under threat in the era of Donald Trump.

At least 500,000 people gathered for a rally outside the US Capitol building while organisers, including the Women's Equality Party, said an estimated 100,000 descended on central London.

Similar events were staged in Edinburgh, Bristol, Sydney, Paris, Oslo, and cities across the US including New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago.

Celebrities Katy Perry, Scarlett Johansson, Amy Schumer and Patricia Arquette were among the demonstrators at the Washington event.

More than 100,000 people of all ages and genders descended on London holding a rainbow of placards with slogans such as "dump Trump", "reject hate, reclaim politics" and "no to racism, no to Trump".

Women march in Piccadilly, London Credit: PA

Filmmaker Michael Moore addressed the Washington rally and said the US was in "day two of the Trump tragedy".

He told the crowd: "Mr Trump, we are here to end the Trump carnage."The majority did not want Donald John Trump in the White House. We are here as their representatives."

People climbed tree to watch speakers on stage due to the size of the crowd.

Protesters march in Paris Credit: AP

Ugly Betty star America Ferrera, who helped organise the march, told the crowd: "It's been a heartbreaking time to be both a woman and immigrant in this country.

"The platform for hate and division assumed power yesterday.

"But the president is not America. His cabinet is not America. Congress is not America. We are America and we are here to stay."

Many of the women in Washington wore pink knitted hats with cat ears - a reference to comments made by Mr Trump in a 2005 leaked video in which he bragged about grabbing women "by the pussy".

Meanwhile, in London people of all ages descended on Grosvenor Square holding a rainbow of placards with slogans such as "dump Trump", "reject hate, reclaim politics" and "no to racism, no to Trump".

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and his wife Saadiya were in Trafalgar Square while celebrities including ex-England rugby captain Chris Robshaw and Iron Man 3 actress Rebecca Hall were spotted among the throngs of people.

Hall said she joined the march because she is half American and half English, and said she would have joined the Washington DC demonstration is she had been in the US.

Thousands rally in support of equal rights, in Sydney. Credit: PA

Marches also took place in other UK cities including Manchester, Edinburgh, Belfast, Liverpool and Cardiff, with thousands turning out.

Beginning at the American Embassy in London, the London Women's March made its way around the streets of the capital and to a rally in Trafalgar Square.

The movement states on its website that the US election "proved a catalyst for a grassroots movement of women to assert the positive values that the politics of fear denies".

In Bristol, more than 1,000 people marched from Queen Square to College Green - just 72 hours after the event was organised.

The group chanted and held placards as they took part in the Sister March in solidarity with the Women's March On Washington.

A protest in Germany Credit: APTN

Blogger Carly Wilkinson, 32, began organising the march from her kitchen table in the city on Wednesday.

"I didn't expect to cry but I have just experienced every emotion," she said.

"I wanted to make the world know that Bristol feels the same as many, that our voices could be heard together.

"I felt really sad that somebody who has his views has been elected into a very powerful seat."

Protesters descended on Bristol Credit: PA

Labour MP Harriet Harman was joined on the march by friend and American-British playwright Bonnie Greer.

Ms Harman said there was a "real sense of menace" and a feeling that rights would regress.

"We can't take for granted the advances we have made," Ms Harman said.

"This is a very important antidote to feeling passively disempowered and a sense that things are going to be pushed back."

Demonstrators in Trafalgar Square during the Women's March on London Credit: PA

Organisers called for people to join them "as part of an international day of action in solidarity" on President Trump's first full day in the Oval Office.

Ms Greer warned that Mr Trump's presidency was "not a joke", adding: "This is for real and I think this march demonstrates that London understands that."

Labour MP Yvette Cooper, who spoke at the rally, told the Press Association: "When the most powerful man in the world says it's okay to sexually assault women because you are rich and powerful, we have to stand up and say no way."

She added: "I think this is a march for equality and action for the future. We don't want the clock being turned back on women's equality."

Many protesters in the US capital carried signs with anti-Trump slogans including "Not my president" and "predator in chief".

Demonstrators walk down Piccadilly during the Women's March on London Credit: PA

Filmmaker Michael Moore addressed the Washington rally and said the US was in "day two of the Trump tragedy".

He told the crowd: "Mr Trump, we are here to end the Trump carnage."The majority did not want Donald John Trump in the White House. We are here as their representatives."

People climbed tree to watch speakers on stage due to the size of the crowd.