ABOUT 500 protesters have marched through York city centre this afternoon in the wake of Donald Trump's inauguration as President of America.

The 'women's march for equality,' involving hundreds of women and many scores of men, started and ended with a rally outside York Minster and wound its way along streets including Low Petergate, Parliament Street and Coney Street.

Marchers carried banners with messages such as: "Freedom, not fear", "Love not hate' and "Women against Trump.'

Organiser CIndy Campbell said during an emotional speech that she was amazed by the huge turn-out for the march, which was one of more than 600 Sister Marches taking place all over the world, from the US to Germany, Singapore and Malawi, in solidarity with a Woman's March in Washington against the politics of fear and hate.

She said the march was about more than just one man but about the ideology behind him.

"Recent events have left so many with the burning desire to do something, to say something, to yell to the world that we will not be broken down by those in power bearing the whip," she said.

"We march with those who are denied access to healthcare and abortions, who are told that they do not have the right to make decisions governing their own bodies.

"We march for the young girls who are told ‘you look pretty’, instead of ‘you are smart, you are capable, you are kind and you matter’ so they can dream of becoming a person in power.

"We march for those who experience street harassment every single day; from those who feel they need to avoid wearing short skirts in case it gets mistaken for an invitation, to those who have said ‘no’ and then have felt fear because of the abuse that followed."

The protesters, who chanted 'Love Trumps Hate', were joined by York Central MP Rachael Maskell.