Home secretary Theresa May has banned marching and public protests in Islington during September following a Met request to stop a rally by a right-wing group.

The English Defence League was due to march through Tower Hamlets, home to one of the UK’s biggest Muslim communities, on Saturday.

Now demonstrations of all kinds are banned in Islington, Tower Hamlets, Newham, Hackney and Waltham Forest for 30 days, starting today (Thursday).

Theresa May said she had “carefully considered the legal tests in the Public Order Act and balanced rights to protest against the need to ensure local communities and property are protected.”

She added: “I know that the Metropolitan Police are committed to using their powers to ensure communities and properties are protected.”