DOZENS of local photographers took snaps of buses in Walthamstow in a demonstration supporting the right to take pictures in public places.

The demonstration was sparked by the news that an elderly Austrian tourist and his son had allegedly been told to stop taking pictures at Walthamstow Central bus station.

The demonstrators staged a protest called Take A Photo For Freedom in which they spent Saturday afternoon taking pictures of buses in the sun.

And despite questions from a Transport for London official, nobody tried to stop the photographers from taking their pictures.Journalist Janet Wright was among the snappers.

She said: "The action brought together groups of people who had not met before, civil rights activists, members of the very respectable and old-established Walthamstow and District Photographic Society , and other local people concerned about the trivialisation of laws intended to prevent mass murder."

Police officers have no right to prevent people from taking pictures in most public places unless they are causing harassment or causing an obstruction.

But campaigners say there is growing evidence of the police, police community support officers (PCSOs) and security guards failing to respect the rights of photographers going about their lawful business.

This it is feared, will be increased by the Counter Terrorism Act 2008 Section 76, which came into force in February.

This makes it an offence to "elicit, publish or communicate information" about members of the armed forces or police if it is "useful to a person preparing an act of terrorism."

Photographers fear this legislation could be used by police to prevent people from taking pictures in public places.

Earlier this month Klaus Matzka wrote a letter to the national Guardian complaining that he and his son had been told by PCSOs to stop taking pictures in Walthamstow.

Mr Matza said their names, passport numbers and London hotel address were noted and alleges they were forced to delete their holiday pictures, an allegation denied by police.

A Met Police spokeswoman said it not the intention to stop tourists taking photos and said an investigation into the incident would be launched.