In Pictures: May Day violence

A massive clean-up operation is under way in London after a May Day protest involving 4,000 people descended into ugly scenes of violence and destruction.

A cone is hurled at police as the May Day protests turn violent

A masked man throws a chair at the window of McDonalds

Protestors came from a number of different groups, with no one organisation claiming leadership

A massive police presence was aiming to prevent a repeat of last year's violent protests

Police were placed at key London locations in preparation for the anti-capitalist protests

Traffic was brought to a halt in Parliament Square as protesters sat in the road

Police in Hyde Park kept a look-out for would-be troublemakers with a video camera

One protester makes a peaceful protest in the name of reclaiming urban spaces

Demonstrations started peacefully as thousands of people marched towards Parliament Square

The Cenotaph, built in homage to the UK's war dead, was attacked with graffiti

Demonstrators smashed up a McDonald's fast-food restaurant in The Strand