British protesters gather near the London Stock Exchange. [Photo by Zhang Chunyan/chinadaily.com.cn]

London - As protests on Wall Street capture the imagination of the world, about 1,000 British people protested near the London Stock Exchange on Saturday noon.

Scotland Yard said two people had been arrested for assaults on officers.

Organisers planned to set up a protest camp outside the London Stock Exchange in Paternoster Square in the City, but were prevented by the police.

Several hundred protesters congregated behind the police lines and heckled officers for not allowing anyone through.

The occupation on Saturday will seek to challenge the power held by the financial sector and the system that regulates it, which are failing to operate in the interests of people across the UK.

Andrew Gruen, actor, 27, told China Daily, "I am protesting because since the 2008 crisis, I have not seen any action from the government to limit the scope of banks. There have not been regulations put into place to control the package of loans, which has a lot of financial risk."

Came to London 7 months ago, Gruen has acted in two plays, but was out of job a month ago.

"I believe what happens in London today is just the beginning of something big. My friends in New York told me that when the Wall Street Occupation started, very few people knew about it. But as it grew, it won more union support and media coverage, and in a short space of time, has already spread to London," Gruen said.