Thanks for following our coverage tonight, this blog is now closed.

The council said the motion carried had nothing to do with the Pink Ladies movement, and the group were not mentioned in the chamber or in the motion.

Cllrs carried a motion declaring that “the raising of flags as part of an anti-immigration protest creates fear and division” and that the campaign was “led by far-right extremists”.

A spokesperson from Tower Hamlets Council said: “At its full council meeting (Wed 8 October) Tower Hamlets Council passed a motion reaffirming its commitment to community safety, cohesion, and standing against hate and division.

“The motion recognised the borough’s proud history of diversity and resistance to fascism, from the Battle of Cable Street to the present day.

“The council resolved to strengthen community engagement, particularly on the Isle of Dogs, support staff safety and uphold public order in the face of intimidation, expand the award-winning No Place for Hate programme, work with partners to counter far-right activity and misinformation, and invest in housing, advice services and community infrastructure to tackle the root causes of division.

“The motion also condemns attempts by organised far-right groups to spread division and commits to protecting all residents, regardless of background, so they feel safe, respected and heard.”

Councillors are yet to discuss the motion classing flying UK and English flags from lampposts on public streets are ‘far right’.

The counter-protesters have started singing “whose street, our street”, after declaring the Pink Ladies had “gone home”.

A Tower Hamlets Council debate over classing flying the St George’s or Union flag from lampposts as ‘far right’ is due to conclude this evening.

Pink Ladies, who arrived for their demonstration with UK flags, including a Union flag in pink, said they planned to watch the debate in the public gallery.

Another grandmother who only wanted to be named as Nina from Epping, said: “I’m not racist, we are all one but these are our families, a few of us travelled from Epping today and we didn’t want to. We’re scared and I’m scared being here.”

Maria Bowtell, a councillor from East Yorkshire, said: “The Pink Ladies is a movement of mothers and sisters and grandmothers who care about their communities.

“The government and councillors are failing to listen to genuine concerns, no action to keep us safe.

“Instead of speaking to concerned residents the council wants to brand us all. This is a last chance for them to speak to us before they judge us.”

A police line has been established between the Pink Ladies and their supporters and the counter-protesters gathered outside the council offices in Whitechapel.

A counter protest made up from unions, Stand Up To Racism members and socialists played drums and chanted slogans, including “say it loud say it clear refugees are welcome here”.

Protester Sufi Suhel Ahmed said “I’m here for peace and because I’m against racism. I don’t know any more than that.”

Photos from the protest show a small group of Pink Ladies attending the demonstration outside the Tower Hamlets Council offices in Whitechapel in East London.

Most of the women and supporters wore something pink, and one activist named Sarah White went even further and sprayed her body with dark pink paint.

A grandmother from Essex said she had travelled from the town of Epping to East London to protest.

Liz Stevens, 61, told reporter Eleanor Burleigh: “I’m just a mum and grandma and want to peacefully get on with my life.

“If I wanted to be in politics I’d get into it. What I don’t want is this country’s politicians dragging us through the mud with our kids in tow.”

Liz added she never used to lock her door but since the Bell Hotel in the town of Epping started housing migrants, she now does.

Sarah White, a woman who protested during the Epping demonstrations over migrant hotels, has taken part in today’s Pink Ladies march by spraying herself pink.

Ms White was seen arguing with a pro-Palestine activist about the vulnerability of children. The Gaza supporter questioned if the children in the territory were the most vulnerable, but was told by the Pink Ladies crowd ‘we’re not talking about that’.

At a meeting at Tower Hamlets Council tonight (Wednesday), members will discuss amendments including a submission calling Operation Raise the Colours, which has seen British and English flags attached to street furniture up and down the country, a campaign “led by far-right extremists”.

The Metropolitan Police said the force had a policing plan and officers were in attendance but there were no conditions imposed on the protest at this time.

A counter-protester outside the Tower Hamlets Council offices told reporter Eleanor Burleigh she was there “to advocate for migrant rights and human rights”.

The woman named Anna said she had come to the scene “independently” of any group or movement.

A crowd has begun gathering outside the council offices on the busy Whitechapel Road. The people appeared to be wearing Unison bibs and were from what looked like the begining of a counter-protest against the Pink Ladies demonstration.

So far, the Pink Ladies were nowhere to be seen.

At a previous protest marching on Downing Street last week, the Pink Ladies were met by rival protesters from ‘Stand Up To Racism’, who claimed the ladies were seeking to spread “division and hate”.

The Pink Ladies have said they are not politically motivated but are formed from women who wish urge the Prime Minister to “get a grip” and make women’s safety a priority, following a series of incidents involving migrants who have been staying in asylum hotels.

The Pink Ladies event is due to start around 5pm outside the Tower Hamlets council offices in east London.

The protesters have been met previously by pro-migrant groups, but it’s not known if there will be any clashes tonight.