A crowd of thousand anti-racism and pro-Palestinian protesters let out a cheer and clapped, as the advertised meet-up time for a rumoured far-right rally approached in northeast London.

There were no sign of the mobs that have rampaged through more than a dozen English towns and cities since early last week, clashing with police and targeting mosques and asylum-seeker accommodation.

With dozens of officers looking on, the crowd of "Stand Up To Racism" demonstrators were joined by hundreds of pro-Palestinian supporters in a noisy, carnival-like rally opposed to the far right.

Following postings on far-right social media channels to target an immigration support office in the ethnically diverse working-class district, police said it had flooded the area.

There were reports that the same thing happened at several dozen other similar cites across the country where the far right had been expected, with counter-protesters also turning out there.

In Walthamstow, the crowds chanted "whose streets? Our streets!" and other slogans, holding banners saying "smash fascism & racism" and "racists not welcome here".

Meanwhile, Several pro-Palestinian attendees held the Palestinian flag aloft, climbing atop bus stops and other vantage points.