In pictures: Knife crime rally

More than 1,000 marchers have joined together - including families of knife and gun crime victims - to call for an end to violence. They started in north and south London, and met in Piccadilly, before holding a peace rally in Hyde Park.

Gemma Olway organised the event on Facebook with Sharon Singh. She decided to act as she "had just had enough of seeing young people dying" whenever she opened a newspaper.

Birds of a Feather star Linda Robson's son was with stabbing victim Ben Kinsella on the night he died. She said she hoped those who carried knives would realise the effect murders have on "so many people".

RJ (left) is in a band called Maximum Contents and is producing a song with soul singer Gregory Isaacs calling on people to put down their knives. He said he attended the march as he had lost friends to knives.

Patrick Koupland's best friend, Elliot Lee Guy, was murdered in July. He said young people needed to be given opportunities, but also face punishment. "When you are an adult you have to take responsibility for your actions," he said.

DJ Richard Blackwood compered the event. He said he got involved as he was a father and he wanted children to be protected from knife crime.

The family of Jimmy Mitzen, who died in May, said they wanted to raise awareness of what was happening on the streets.

Janet Collins (second from right) runs a voluntary organisation called the Crib which aims to keep young people out of gangs. "We teach them to be individuals," she said.

Olympic gold medal winner James Degalle thinks boxing is a good occupation for young men. "How about being a man in the boxing ring?" he challenged knife carriers.