Victoria recorded 61 new cases as Anti-lockdown protests in Melbourne

More than a thousand anti lockdown protestors are marching through Melbourne streets, with flares being set off as the crowd chants “freedom”.

Regional Victoria will go into lockdown at 1:00pm today in response to a growing number of cases emerging in Shepparton, Premier Daniel Andrews has announced. The announcement came as Victoria recorded 61 new cases of COVID-19.

The group of protestors converged at the intersection of Elizabeth and Little Bourke streets in Melbourne  city centre.

The crowd has been chanting: “Sack Dan Andrews”, while others are carrying signs that read “vaccines kill” and “open schools and parks now”.

There have been wild clashes between police and protestors.

Dozens of police officers have been seen pepper spraying and tackling demonstrators in Melbourne, while there were reports that protestors have also breached police lines.

Chaotic scenes have shown some protestors being arrested, while others have stopped marching to tend to pepper spray burns.

The “Freedom Rally ” protest began at midday, with footage showing a majority of the protestors are not wearing masks.

Meanwhile Protesters have gathered to protest lockdowns in Sydney despite thousands of police flooding the streets and creating a "ring of steel" around the CBD.