A march backed by the English Defence League took place in Northampton town centre today, and appears to have passed off without incident.
About 130 people marched down Abington Street to All Saints Church, where they held a minute’s silence for Drummer Lee Rigby, who was stabbed to death in Woolwich last week.
They laid wreaths at the war memorial, carrying flags bearing the name of the soldier.
About 65 protestors carried anti-EDL banners and stood with their backs to the march. There was also a strong police presence.
A spokesman for the National Union of Teachers, who attended the protest, said: “Everybody regrets the death of Lee Rigby and hundreds of other soldiers who have lost their lives.
“But the EDL is using this as an opportunity to recruit more people to their racist views.
“The hypocrisy of this is they are laying wreaths at a war memorial where many of those on it died fighting fascism - a view they now represent.”
Another protestor said: “The community is coming together to let the EDL know that we don’t want them in our town.”