Two south Londoners have been charged after a BBC journalist was chased down the street, threatened and harassed near Downing Street.

Joseph Olswang, 38, of Richmond upon Thames, is accused of common assault following the incident around Whitehall on June 14.

Christopher Aitken, 62, from Brixton, is charged with an offence contrary to Section 4A of the Public Order Act and is due is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on July 22.

Footage shared widely on social media showed demonstrators confronting Newsnight political editor Nicholas Watt near Richmond Terrace and Whitehall.

Crowds had gathered in Westminster to protest against the Government's extension of coronavirus restrictions in England by four weeks.

Previously Martin Hockridge was accused of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress in relation to the incident.

Richmond and Twickenham Times: Martin Hockridge outside court - PA Martin Hockridge outside court - PA

The 57-year-old from Harpenden in Hertfordshire, has denied a public order offence after calling Newsnight political editor Nicholas Watt a "traitor", and appeared in court on Tuesday.

Dressed in black boots, dark jeans, and a camouflage military-style jacket, Hockridge spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address before entering a not guilty plea to the single charge.

The court heard Hockridge, from Harpenden, in Hertfordshire, does not deny calling Mr Watt a "traitor" and the journalist will not be called as a witness during a trial on November 8.

His solicitor Gemma Motion said Hockridge denies the word was threatening, abusive or insulting or that it would be perceived to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Hockridge was arrested after footage shared on social media showed demonstrators confronting Mr Watt near Richmond Terrace and Whitehall.

Mr Watt, who was wearing a BBC lanyard, was forced to run through the mob beyond a line of police officers as people shouted at him.

Hockridge was released on conditional bail by District Judge Angus Hamilton ahead of the trial at Westminster Magistrates' Court