A child "may have been affected" by synthetic pepper spray, police said, as protests inside inside Canary Wharf shopping centre boiled over into an officer being reportedly punched in the face.

Police said a group of masked protesters became "aggressive" towards police at the shopping complex after an anti-asylum demonstration.

A group of people entered the shopping centre around 4.30pm and a "small number of masked protesters" then became aggressive towards members of the public and police, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.

Police issued an order to "prevent people concealing their identity with masks" and a dispersal order was also put in place.

Video seen on social media showed young children among the protesters, with some of them wearing England flags.

In a statement on Sunday night, the Met said: "Officers witnessed an assault by a protester on a member of the public inside Canary Wharf shopping centre.

"The suspect was immediately arrested by officers who used PAVA spray.

"We are aware other protesters and members of the public, including a child, may have been temporarily affected by the use of PAVA given the density of the crowds in the area."

Police say four arrested

Police said four people were arrested on Sunday afternoon during the protests, including for common assault by a protester on a member of the public, possession of class A and B drugs, assault on police/public order offences and failure to disperse.

"One of our officers was punched in the face - luckily they did not suffer significant injury," a spokesperson said.

Commander Adam Slonecki, in charge of policing London this weekend, said: "We had plenty of officers on the ground who moved in swiftly to deal with the criminality that occurred inside and outside the shopping centre. We will not tolerate this kind of behaviour.

"Today's protest saw many community members attend, including women and children, and we worked to ensure the safety of those there to peacefully represent their views. Those who arrive at protests masked and intent on causing trouble will continue to be dealt with robustly at future protests."

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Protesters from both sides of the divide over the UK's immigration policies gathered outside the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf on Sunday afternoon.

Around a dozen anti-immigration protesters were joined by about 100 counter-protesters holding banners saying "stand up to racism" and "stop the far right" on the other side of the road.

Demonstrators then left the hotel location - kept apart by police.

Sunday's events in east London follow an incident in West Drayton, west London, on Saturday when a group of masked men were among those who attempted to enter a hotel housing asylum seekers.

Further protests in Epping

Protesters also gathered again outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, which has seen repeated demonstrations over the housing of asylum seekers.

Essex Police however said that Sunday's protests there must end by 8pm.

Later, around 200 people gathered outside the Epping Forest District Council building, where a woman climbed the steps and unfurled a Union flag.

In a statement, Essex Police said: "A significant number of people attended the town with three arrests being made, including two men and one woman.

"With regards to the arrest of the woman at the Civic Centre, we're aware of suggestions around the reason for her arrest.

"The arrest is on suspicion of breaching a Section 14 order, which is in place this evening. That order set out specific areas where protest activity could take place, which did not include the Civic Centre.

"Her arrest was categorically not for flying a Union Flag."

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