Hundreds of protesters hit the streets of Manchester today (Saturday) demanding 'freedom' from Covid restrictions and vaccinations.
Roads and tramlines were blocked as protesters chanted their cause, before an impromptu party in the Arndale saw demonstrators dancing in the shopping centre.
Several hundred protesters gathered in Piccadilly Gardens at 1pm on Saturday (February 5) in solidarity with the Freedom Convoy currently taking place in Canada, where truckers in Ottawa are protesting against vaccine mandates.
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In Manchester, 3,194 miles away from Ottawa, residents are living with some of the most relaxed measures on coronavirus in the world.
But the protest was made up of demonstrators with a range of concerns about the pandemic.
Several protesters held placards against mandatory vaccines for NHS workers, which the government had previously planned.
It had meant NHS staff would have needed a first jab by February 3 and a second jab in time for the rules to come into force in April.
However, amid fears about the impact of losing NHS workers at a critical time - and with Omicron less severe than previous strains of coronavirus - Health Secretary Sajid Javid labelled the plans 'no longer proportionate' and confirmed the move would be reviewed earlier this week.
Other protesters chanted against the Covid vaccination more generally, while a small number carried signs with messages of conspiracy about the pandemic and how it has been reported.
The gathering made its way from Piccadilly Gardens, through the Northern Quarter towards Piccadilly station, down Whitworth Street to Oxford Street and up Deansgate towards the city's main shopping areas.
Demonstrators made frequent stops on busy junctions, blocking traffic and tramlines as it made its way towards the city.
It was at the Arndale Centre where the protest was at its most disruptive though - as hundreds of demonstrators stormed the Market Street entrance and made their way to the New Cannon Street end on the ground floor.
There, the gathering stopped outside Next - which pulled its shutters down - and protesters began dancing along to well-known tunes being blasted out from a sound system, before speakers took turns to rally the crowd.
After around half an hour, the protest left the shopping centre and returned to Piccadilly Gardens, where a live band performed under the shelter next to Caffe Nero.
A large police presence monitored the protest throughout the city, but the huge gathering did not spill into trouble as it made its way around the city.
It wasn't the only protest to take place in Manchester city centre today.
Also starting at 1pm, two small gatherings were held at St Peter's Square, with a number of residents protesting against the Clean Air Zone.
A second protest was held in the square against the government's Elections Bill - which would see the need for voter ID introduced - and in favour of proportional representation, with a crowd of less than 100 chanting 'make votes matter'.
