Trade unionists, pensioners, students and activists will take part in a number of protests and rallies today to mark the annual May Day celebrations.

Leaders of trade unions will address a rally in London's Trafalgar Square against a backdrop of disputes in the public sector over jobs, pay and pensions.

Tens of thousands of civil servants, lecturers, health workers, Ministry of Defence staff and Royal Fleet Auxiliary employees will take industrial action on May 10 in the bitter dispute over the Government's controversial public sector reforms.

May Day has been celebrated in London since the 1880s and today's event in the capital will be supported by a wide variety of groups representing workers, students, pensioners and politicians.

One of the organisers said: “Attacks on the NHS, education, pensions, the civil service, local government, jobs both public and private sector, the disabled and women mean we have to fight back and say there is a different way forward.”

Campaigners continue to call for May 1 to be a public holiday.

Anti-tax avoidance protesters are also planning demonstrations in central London, targeting areas including Tube stations.