Riot police confront bottle throwing crowd after illegal rave in London

Riot police armed with batons and shields have confronted a crowd of people throwing bottles and chairs after an illegal rave.

Trouble erupted on Halloween night in central London as hundreds of people gathered on Black Prince Road at Albert Embankment.

Police have been battling the crowds for more than two hours, as an angry mob chanted "scum" and pigs".

Bangers have also been thrown and one male was seen letting off a fire extinguisher.

Describing the scene on Black Prince Road a witness said: "It was mayhem. There was traffic chaos as police blocked the road."

The crowd appeared to disperse around 12.20am but the disorder continued as people moved down Lambeth Road on to Lambeth High Street and nearby Whitgift Street.

Police said they had posted officers at junctions to nearby Whitgift street to "to prevent any escalation" of the trouble.

Lambeth police tweeted: "We are dealing with a public disorder on Whitgift Street. We have officers positioned at respective junctions to prevent any escalation

"We have public order trained officers and police dogs at the scene."

Riot police, with dogs and shields, were seen drawing their batons against a charging crowd.

As police formed a line against the crowd on Whitgift Street at around 2am objects including chairs were thrown at officers.

Following earlier reports of a fire at a building near Lambeth Fire Station, the fire brigade said there had been a fire alarm but no blaze.