Still going: A protestor sleeps amongst tents outside St Paul's Cathedral in the City of London

Camping out: Protesters, who are part of the Occupy London Stock Exchange demonstration, outside St Paul's Cathedral

Unite! A woman holds a flag during a protest against the global financial system outside St Paul's Cathedral

Clergymen told protesters this morning that they had no problem with their presence as Sunday services took place.

Ben Doran, 21, a music student from the Midlands, said: 'The reverend came out this morning and asked the police to leave the steps of the cathedral and said he didn't mind protesters being here, that he supported the democratic right to protest.

'He said there was no issue and that people were treating the site respectfully and he was happy for it to carry on.

'He was asked if the services would still be carrying on and he said yes, they would carry on as if there was no problem happening.

Angry: Protesters hold placards as they stand on the steps of Saint Paul's Cathedral

'The response from protesters was very positive, everybody likes to feel that the community around us are helping out.'

One protester, a pensioner from London who gave her name as Ruth, said: 'The vicar said he had no problem with us being here, he could see we weren't here against the church, we were here against the stock exchange.

'He said that the bad news was that the cathedral's bells are really loud, that our samba band was loud last night but we ain't seen nothing yet, and that it would wake us all up.

There is a heavy police presence throughout central London to help deal with the protest

Pitched battle? Some of the demonstrators outside the London Stock Exchange appeared to treat the event more like a camping holiday

'We said that's absolutely fine with us and we're delighted to have his support.'

Worshippers at the cathedral also expressed their support for the protesters.

John Maguire and his wife Gail, from Haslemere, Surrey, attended the service to celebrate their twelfth wedding anniversary.

Mr Maguire, 51, a charity worker, said: 'I think the protesters have got a valid point to make and obviously they want to make it in the most visible sense, so I'm pleased for them.'

The Reverend Dr Giles Fraser, Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral, confirmed that he had spoken to protesters this morning.

He said that while he hadn't given his specific backing to the occupation of St Paul's Churchyard he supported the democratic right to protest.

Scuffle: Occupy London protesters alongside police at an entrance to Paternoster Square

Protest: Demonstrators hold placards as they stand on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral

Laid-back approach: A demonstrator reads a book near tents belonging to other demonstrators during the London protest

He said: 'People have a right to protest and it's been very good natured.'

'Church went down well this morning. There were no problems. We had no problems getting people in. People were very helpful.'

Dr Fraser also confirmed that he had asked police to move off the steps this morning in order to allow worshippers better access to the cathedral.

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange arrived at the protest wearing a mask, which he was promptly told to remove bv police

Unmasked: After a talking to from police, Wikileaks founder Julian Assange removed his mask

Julian Assange then spoke to demonstrators from the steps of St Paul's Cathedral

He said: 'The police have been very good as well. I haven't seen any trouble, I understood there might have been some but I haven't seen any trouble.

'The police were trying to protect the building for us which was very good of them. Earlier this morning I asked them if they'd leave because I didn't feel that it needed that sort of protection.'

Asked what he thought about protesters staying another night, he said: 'It's cold, isn't it going to be cold tonight? We'll see how it goes, we're taking one day at a time and it's really good to see it's all worked out well for us today.'

Crowded: Protesters cheer as Julian Assange speaks outside St Paul's Cathedral

THE V FOR VENDETTA MASK

 

The 2006 film V For Vendetta popularised the Guy Fawkes mask as a symbol of rebellion.

The mask was worn by an anarchist named V in the film and has since become a revolutionary symbol for protesters.

V wears the Guy Fawkes mask for almost the entire film and used Fawkes' story as a role model in his quest to end the Norsefire rule – a fictional fascist political party ruling the UK in the original comic book series.

This was because V felt Guy Fawkes was right in trying to bring down what he felt was an oppressive government during his day.

In the film V briefly explains the mask’s significance, saying: ‘This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi [voice of the people], no vacant, vanished.’

Over 100,000 of the masks are now sold worldwide per year, according to the Guardian.

Scotland Yard said later eight arrests have now been made, and six of those arrested had been charged.

A 17-year-old girl is still in police custody, on suspicion of assaulting police, and a 41-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of assaulting police has been released on bail.

Those charged will appear at City of London Magistrates' Court tomorrow.

Michael Firth, 39, of Claremont Road, Surbiton, Surrey, was charged under the Public Order Act. Benjamin James Marsh, 28, of no fixed address, was charged with the possession of cannabis.

Justin Nickol, 30, of High Street, Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, was charged with failing to remove covering, contrary to the Public Order Act. Nigal James McCorkell, 24, of Belgrade Road, north London, was charged with affray.

A final man, details of whom were not released by police, was charged under the Public Order Act.

Well-known activists including Julian Assange and Peter Tatchell were among the protesters in London yesterday.

Mr Assange, creator of the WikiLeaks website, addressed the crowds on the steps of St Paul's.

A spokeswoman for the protesters said he had been challenged by police for wearing a mask as he walked to the protest.

She said: 'As I understand it, Julian initially refused to take the mask off. Police detained him for 15 minutes before letting him go.

'He then gave a speech in which he talked about WikiLeaks, police oppression and the current economic situation.'

Activists carried banners with slogans such as 'We are the 99%' and 'Bankers got a bailout, we got sold out'.

Among them was Lorena Fuentes, 27, a charity worker originally from Vancouver, Canada.

She said: 'I'm here today because I can't see why you wouldn't be and I feel that this is one of the few moments in history where it's not a protest, it's an actual movement that's taken root.

'We're trying to challenge this myth that there are not enough resources to go around.'

Protests also took place on the streets of Edinburgh and Dublin, which passed off peacefully.

More than 100 demonstrators turned out to protest in St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, while hundreds also took to the streets of Dublin.

In Italy however, police fired tear gas and water cannons as protesters turned the demonstration against corporate greed into a riot, smashing shop and bank windows, torching cars and hurling bottles.

Police in riot gear charged the protesters and fired water cannons at them.

Several police officers and protesters were injured, including one man trying to stop protesters from throwing bottles.

Call to arms: Political campaigner Peter Tatchell spoke to the crowds and proposed a one-off 20 per cent emergency tax on the net wealth of the richest 10 per cent of the UK population

Holy protest: A demonstrator dressed as Jesus Christ to take part in Occupy London

Long arm of the law: Police line up to confront protesters during the Occupy London demonstration

Prepared: Protesters wait for the demonstration to begin outside St Paul's Cathedral

Protection: City of London Police guard an entrance to the London Stock Exchange during the Occupy London protest

Protesters inspired by the growing 'Occupy Wall Street' movement in the U.S are today demonstrating in the City of London

Popular: More than 13,000 signed up to Occupy London's Facebook page

Inspired: Occupy London has said it is taking its lead from the occupation movements across the world, including that in New York

Movement: Occupy Wall Street moves to Cape Town, South Africa

Angry: Thousands of protesters are taking to the streets of Frankfurt, Germany

Indignants: Protesters practice yoga at the Puerta del Sol square in Madrid before this afternoon's demonstrationi

Anger has also spread to Hong Kong

The capital of South Korea has also been taken over by protesters

Occupy Sydney holds signs in front of the Reserve Bank of Australia