THOUSANDS of pro-Brexit protesters have shut down Westminster this afternoon as they celebrated what should have been our independence day.

There have been five arrests this evening as protesters gathered outside Parliament, Downing Street and in Trafalgar Square.

Earlier, today Parliament Square was jam-packed with passionate activists rallying for Brexit - who were furious that our official exit day has been scrapped.

Aerial views showed the crowds filling up every space available in front of the Houses of Parliament and along Whitehall, with traffic diverted elsewhere.

Fuming Brexiteers marched through central London, sang Land of Hope and Glory, cheered and waved their flags.

They joyously cheered as Wetherspoons boss Tim Martin, Nigel Farage and Brexit-backing MPs took to the stage to speak to them.

Piling the pressure on MPs as they voted down the PM's deal yet again, they sent a firm reminder of what the 17.4million Brits who opted to break free of the EU still want to see delivered.