Hundreds of people descended on the city centre this morning as two demonstrations took place in relation to a drag queen storytelling event aimed at children.

At 11am the Oxfordshire County Library in the Westgate Centre hosted Drag Queen Story Hour, a storytelling event for children aged between three and eight lead by drag performer Aida H Dee.

Around 20 protesters against the event turned out to demonstrate, stating a drag queen reading to children was the beginning of “grooming” and chanting “shame” at members of the LGBTQ+ community.

However, about 150 people turned out to counter to protest and in turn chanted “say it loud, say it clear, drag queens are welcome here”, played pop music and waved pride flags.

You can read more about the demonstrations HERE>>>

There was a large police presence at the double protest, with several members of the Westgate security staff also on the scene.

Check out pictures from the protest below:

Oxford Mail: Protesters and counter-protesters demonstrated outside the Westgate CentreProtesters and counter-protesters demonstrated outside the Westgate Centre (Image: Newsquest)

Oxford Mail: A sign inside the library A sign inside the library (Image: Newsquest)

Oxford Mail: Protesters and counter-protesters demonstrated outside the Westgate CentreProtesters and counter-protesters demonstrated outside the Westgate Centre (Image: Newsquest)

Oxford Mail: Protesters and counter-protesters demonstrated outside the Westgate CentreProtesters and counter-protesters demonstrated outside the Westgate Centre (Image: Newsquest)

Oxford Mail: Protesters and counter-protesters demonstrated outside the Westgate CentreProtesters and counter-protesters demonstrated outside the Westgate Centre (Image: Newsquest)

Oxford Mail: Protesters and counter-protesters demonstrated outside the Westgate CentreProtesters and counter-protesters demonstrated outside the Westgate Centre (Image: Newsquest)

Oxford Mail: Police on the scenePolice on the scene (Image: Newsquest)

Oxford Mail: An information table An information table (Image: Newsquest)

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Read more from this author

This story was written by Sophie Perry. She joined the team in 2021 as a digital reporter.

You can get in touch with her by emailing: sophie.perry@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @itssophieperry

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