We'll soon be pausing our coverage of the latest developments following Monday's stabbing attack in Southport.

Throughout the day, we've seen dozens of people volunteer to help clean up Southport's streets after last night's riots, in which police say more than 50 officers were injured.

Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy says the rioters will feel "the full force of the law".

Earlier, we heard from a relative of Leanne Lucas – a yoga teacher who was injured in the knife attack – who told the BBC she is recovering, but "not out of the woods yet”.

And within the last few hours, we've been bringing you updates from a protest held around Whitehall. A few remain at the scene, but tensions appear to have calmed as police are encouraging them to leave.

If you'd like to continue reading more about this story, find some of our latest news stories below:

• Yoga teacher stabbed as she protected girls in Southport attack
• Man stabbed in Southport attack 'saddened' he couldn't do more
• What we know about victims of dance studio attack

We're looking at the live images from the protest in London, where the march appears to be dispersing relatively calmly.

Police officers are leading people away one by one, but no major clashes are look to be breaking out at the moment.

Some protesters appear to be objecting to being asked to move, leading to some minor scuffles – including some being wrestled to the ground by officers in riot gear.

As a reminder, the Metropolitan Police imposed a condition on this protest which required them to leave the area at 20:30 BST.

Image source, PA Media

Over the last hour or so we've been following a planned protest in central London, which you can catch up on in our last few posts.

Bottles and cans have been thrown at police – many wearing helmets – and chanting has included phrases such as "stop the boats".

We've also spotted some attendees – via a live stream of the event – being led away by police but the Metropolitan Police has so far not released any details of arrests being made.

The Met's statement from earlier today said a condition placed on the protest was that it must conclude by 20:30 BST. As it stands, the action is ongoing.

We'll bring you any other updates as we get them.

Ellie Price
Reporting from Whitehall

Police have extended a cordon around Whitehall, near Downing Street.

Police lines start around the cenotaph and officers are now pushing protesters down the road.

I’ve seen people shouting “this is England now” and insulting Islam. I’ve also heard glasses being thrown. There are plenty of people chanting.

Numbers seem to be in the tens but it’s difficult to tell who wants to protest and who is just here to watch. There's a police helicopter hovering above.

Image source, PA Media

Here's some of the latest images from the protest unfolding near Downing Street:

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Reuters

We're following a protest that's under way near Downing Street, which the Metropolitan Police say is being badged 'Enough is Enough'.

It comes a day after riots broke out in Southport following a stabbing attack in the town on Monday, in which three children were killed.

In footage from the scene, protesters can be heard chanting "save our kids" and "Rule Britannia". Flares have also been thrown towards the gates of Downing Street.

In a statement released earlier, the Met said officers will be deployed to the area to ensure the demonstration is "carried out lawfully".

Superintendent Neil Holyoak, leading tonight’s policing operation, earlier said he urges "everyone to exercise their right to protest calmly and within the law. Any disorder will be dealt with swiftly".

If you're just joining us, here's a glance at the latest developments:

• The family of the yoga teacher stabbed in the attack on Monday is recovering, but "not out of the woods yet", her family has told the BBC
• A man who was also attacked while trying to save children told the BBC he is "saddened" he couldn't do more to protect them

• Meanwhile, police say four people have been arrested in relation to the disorder – in which 53 officers were hurt – in Southport yesterday
• The rioters destroyed a local garden walls, including outside the mosque they were targeting, before using the bricks as missiles, Merseyside Police says

• But the local community has come together following the unrest, cleaning up the mess and rebuilding walls targeted by the rioters
• Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson says the "thugs and hooligans" involved in the violence "must be held to account"

Stay with us for more.

The BBC's Will Vernon visits the mosque attacked on Tuesday night in Southport to see the clean-up efforts:

Image source, PA Media

Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson says that the "thugs and hooligans" involved in yesterday's violence in Southport "must be held to account for their actions".

In a social media post, she also shares comments from Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy – who said earlier that some of the officers who dealt with the riots were "first responders who attended that awful scene on Monday".

"This is shocking to hear from a chief constable that so many of her officers were injured in the line of duty last night," Johnsons adds.

Here's some of the latest images from Southport, as more bouquets of flowers, heart shaped balloons and teddy bears for victims of the attack are being laid outside the Atkinson Art Centre:

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Josh Parry
Reporting from Southport

Image source, Instagram

Leanne Lucas, the yoga teacher who was injured in a knife attack in Southport, is awake and has spoken for the first time, her family tells the BBC.

Her cousin Chris Rimmer says Leanne is a “hero” and who had “shielded two girls” during the attack on Monday.

The 35-year-old was described as being in a “critical condition” following the attack. Chris says she is “not out of the woods yet”, but that she is recovering.

Rimmer says the family was “torn apart” by the incident.

“Everyone that is sat in this house right now is just concentrating on getting her home and concentrating on her [recovering enough] that we can see her,” he adds.

A fundraiser that was set up by Taylor Swift fans to raise money for the victims and their families in Southport has now raised over £310,000.

The group says they are working with Alder Hey Children's Hospital – their original target had been to raise £13,000.

Sefton Council says suggestions circulating online that people have been told to avoid Southport town centre due to further disorder are untrue.

"We have confirmed that there is NO disruption or disorder in Southport at this time and the town centre remains fully open for business," it says in a statement.

"We urge people to remain calm and if they need, to please seek advice from official channels such as Sefton Council and Merseyside Police."

Nicky Schiller
Reporting from Southport

This morning I saw locals removing the damaged wall at the mosque here in Southport. Children helped to sweep away the debris.

I have returned a few hours later and a team of builders are putting cement and bricks down to rebuild it – it is almost complete.

This is the spirit of the town that I have witnessed over the last two days coming together in the face of adversity and tragedy.

And still people from the local community are coming out with cold drinks and packets of crisps for the workers.

Image source, PA Media

Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram says the violence in Southport last night "leaves a very sour taste in the mouth".

He described the riot as an "infiltration by people from all over the country, stirred up by social media and then whipped up into a frenzy" that saw attacks on "the very people that everybody earlier in the day was celebrating for being the heroes".

"It leaves a very sour taste in the mouth that these people believe they can come here and divide our community," Rotheram says.

He says it's too easy for people with "nefarious intent" to go online and say things that aren't factual and for people to believe those things, and warned people to watch or listen to online content with "a large dose of salt".

Let's go back to the new Merseyside Police update, which revealed that four people had been arrested.

The force says rioters "destroyed garden walls to use the bricks as missiles to attack officers"; set fire to cars "at random"; threw bricks at the mosque; and set wheelie bins on fire.

At least 53 officers were injured - eight of whom sustained serious injuries including fractures, a suspected broken nose and concussion.

As we reported earlier, three police dogs were also injured - one suffering burns to her back leg, and another with a stitched laceration on her leg after a brick was thrown.

Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims says: "We have been overwhelmed with messages of thanks from the community, and I know I speak on behalf of all those officers there last night when I say how grateful we all are for their support."

Image source, EPA

Sharon Barbour
BBC Look North

A man who was stabbed as he tried to stop the knife attack in Southport on Monday tells the BBC he was "saddened" he could not have done more to protect the girls who died.

Jonathan Hayes - who runs a business next door to the Southport studio where the attack took place - was in a critical condition after being stabbed in the leg and has undergone major surgery.

From his hospital bed, he tells the BBC he does not see himself as a hero. Instead, he says: "Some would say confronting a guy wielding a hunting knife is utter madness."

Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar died in the attack.

Eight children, Hayes, and one other adult, were also injured, with several in a critical condition.

Hayes ran to the studio after hearing the screams. As he tried to step in to save children, he came under attack himself.

He had surgery on Tuesday. He expects to be in hospital for some time, because he currently "can't walk".

Merseyside Police have just released an update, and now say four people have been arrested following last night's riots.

• A 31-year-old man from St Helens, Merseyside, was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder
• A 31-year-old man from West Derby, Liverpool, was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder
• A 39-year-old man from Southport was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder
• A 32-year-old man from Manchester with a probation address in Southport was arrested on suspicion of affray and possession of a bladed article

Rose Tucker, 32, runs a beauty salon in Southport, opposite a shop that was looted last night.

She his now fundraising for the Windsor Mini Mart owner, Chanaka Balasuryla, who says he lost £10,000 of stock, mainly alcohol and cigarettes.

So far Tucker has raised more than £2,000.

"We love having this diverse community and we're going to keep it that way. We do not condone any of [the riots], I think it's barbaric," she adds.

"[Raising money] just seems like the right thing to do. They've had an absolutely horrific experience, so I want to help them as much as I can."

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

The chief constable of Merseyside Police has given details on the numbers involved in last night's riots.

So far three arrests have been made, but Serena Kennedy says "more will follow".

"It's impossible to say [how many will be arrested]. It's really early days in the investigation," she says.

She estimates that around 200 to 300 people were involved in the violence.

"Initially, there were about 70 people who made their way away from the vigil and were making their way towards the mosque.

"They suddenly became about 200 in number and then others joined that number."

As a reminder, earlier Kennedy said 54 officers were hurt while policing the riot.

Image source, PA Media