Thousands of people have marched through London to protest against the referendum decision to leave the EU.

Demonstrators at the “March for Europe” rally, organised on social media, held placards saying “Bremain” and “We Love EU”.

In the referendum on 23 June the UK voted to leave the EU, with 51.9% in favour of leaving and 48.1% supporting Remain.

Critics said that those protesting who lost the vote were “having a tantrum”.

Demonstrators gathered around Park Lane before setting off for Parliament Square. A rally also took place in York.

An organiser of the London march, Keiran MacDermott, said protesters hoped to stop the government from triggering Article 50, which begins the formal process of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

Fellow organiser Mark Thomas, an activist, said he felt “anger, frustration” and a “need to do something”.

At the end of the two-mile route, protesters gathered in front of Parliament, and listened to speakers including Labour MP for Tottenham David Lammy, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron, leftwing commentator and activist Owen Jones and musician Bob Geldof.

Mr Geldof urged Remain campaigners to take to the streets, speak to their neighbours and work to stop the UK’s exit from the EU.

“We need to individually organise ourselves. Organise those around us and do everything possible within our individual power to stop this country being totally destroyed,” he said.

Pulp singer Jarvis Cocker also recorded a video message for the rally, holding up a world map and saying: “You cannot deny geography. The UK is in Europe.”

Mr Farron later tweeted: “Wow. So inspiring!!! Such amazing support for Britain in Europe today.”

Among the crowd was Tom North, from Norfolk, who was marching with his family.

“I’m here because I feel the country has been conned into voting for something that will turn out a disaster. I’m particularly concerned about the effect it will have on scientific research,” he said.

His son Ace North, 34, from Oxford said: “I was able to do my PHD in an EU country thanks to being in the EU so I feel quite passionate about it.”

Fellow protester Mark Thomas said the referendum campaign “was full of misinformation and people need to do something with their frustration”.

•Excerpted from a BBC report. Photo shows the anti-Brexit marchers.