Around 35,000 protesters gathered in the rain in London today for a huge march for “jobs, justice and climate” in the first of a week of demonstrations ahead of the G20 summit.

The Put People First march involved an alliance of 150 groups, including unions, charities, environmental campaigners and faith organisations. Campaigners are expected to target bankers and city financiers who they blame for the global recession.

A massive security campaign was launched as the Metropolitan police warned of an “unprecedented” threat posed by the protests, but organisers stressed today’s events would not turn violent.

Ed Miliband, climate change secretary, met campaigners before the march got under way and said the “vast majority” were planning a peaceful protest. “There is a very important line between peaceful and non-peaceful protest,” he said. “I think the kind of campaigning that people are engaged in today - certainly what the organisers intend, what the vast majority of the people who are going on this march will do - is the kind of peaceful protest that is very much part of our society.”

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Brendan Barber, general secretary of the Trades Union Council, who was due to lead speeches at the rally, told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: “If there are other groups who want to cause trouble, I don’t want to see them anywhere near our event. I read about other events being planned by other groups over the next couple of days. If people want to make their protest in other ways, not the peaceful ways that we are absolutely committed to, then they should go in other directions.”

Mr Barber is expected to say at the rally there was nothing inevitable about this recession and that it was right to be angry about people losing their jobs and homes. That, today is the birth of a powerful progressive voice, and it would not be the last time organisations would work together, but just the first.

Richard Chartres, the Bishop of London, said the atmosphere at the event was “positive” this morning, adding that it would be a “tragedy” if events turned violent.

An unprecedented alliance of 150 groups, including unions, charities, environmental campaigners, development and faith organisations, were marching to Hyde Park for a rally with speakers and entertainment including Luke Pritchard of the Kooks, comedian Mark Thomas and Mauritanian musician Daby Toure.

“We must realise that all these problems that we face come from the same place. Poverty, environmental problems, I believe these things can be eradicated, but Government must listen to the will of the people who put them in power. People who will be most affected by the decisions they make,” said Pritchard, singer and guitarist with the Kooks, a British indie rock band.

Campaigner Jake Corn, from Cambridge, said he was taking part to support a more sustainable future.

“We feel this is an important moment with the G20 coming here," he said.

"We want to get our message across to as many people as possible."

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