Donald Trump inauguration LIVE: Billionaire prepares to be sworn in as US president

• Donald Trump arrives at the White House

• Barack Obama leaves the Oval Office for final time as president

• Riots break out in Washington DC as activists smash the windows of Bank of America branch

Donald Trump and his family arrived at Capitol Hill for the inauguration ceremony to huge applause as riot police gear up for protests as hundreds of thousands of people descended on Washington DC for the ceremony.

Vice-president-elect Mike Pence has been sworn in as the crowd eagerly awaits Mr Trump's declaration.

Protests broke out as the two couples met at the White House with anti-Trump activists dressed in black smashing the window of a Bank of America branch in the capital.

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Donald Trump prepares to become the 45th US president

It all begins today! The movement continues- the work begins

Donald Trump

Police used handheld water cannons as they moved in to disperse the trouble as violence broke out on the streets.

Organisers expect crowds of upwards of 900,000 people, including protestors.

Mr Trump has invited six religious leaders to give readings and pray at the inauguration– more than any other US president. The ceremony began with Roy Blunt, chairman of the congressional inauguration committee, introducing the event ahead of a series of prayers.

Wearing tartan in a nod to Mr Trump’s Scottish heritage, Missouri State University Chorale performed.

LIVE: Inauguration of Donald Trump
Fri, January 20, 2017

The inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States will mark the commencement of the four-year term of Donald Trump as President and Mike Pence as Vice President. A public ceremony will be held on Friday, January 20, 2017, on the West Front of the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

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President Elect Donald Trump arrives on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC.

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Donald Trump arrives to be sworn in as president

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Mr Obama and Mr Trump shake hands ahead of the inauguration

Mr Obama, accompanied by his friend and vice-president Mr Biden, was greeted by applause and cheers as he walked down the steps to the platform.

He had a broad smile on his face as he greeted dignitaries, before warmly shaking hands with members of Mr Trump's family.

Mr Trump and wife Melania attended the traditional church service this morning before outgoing president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle welcomed the couple to the White House for tea and to show them around their new home before the ceremony.

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Donald Trump's son Barron takes his seat with his mother Melania

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Donald Trump's children arrive at the ceremony

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Donald Trump arrives at Capitol Hill with Barack Obama

Mr Trump said on Twitter: "It all begins today! I will see you at 11:00 A.M. for the swearing-in. THE MOVEMENT CONTINUES – THE WORK BEGINS!"

He and vice president elect , Mike Pence, will take the oath of office at 5pm GMT outside the domed US Capitol, with US Chief Justice John Roberts presiding.

Mr Trump, whose November 8 victory stunned the world, will start his presidency with a 20-minute inaugural address that he has been writing himself with the help of top aides.

His spokesman Sean Spicer told NBC: "It will be optimistic. It will be visionary, but it's going to be philosophical.”

TRUMP INAUGURATION LIVE- How to watch Donald Trump's inauguration online

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Riot police fire water cannons at protestors in Washington

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Anti-Trump protests kick off in Washington

The new president is due to address hundreds of thousands of people gathered in the capital, including his adversary Hillary Clinton and her husband Bill, as well as Mr Obama and former president George W Bush.

Mrs Clinton looked steely-eyed as she awaited Mr Trump's arrival, but Tweeted: "I'm here today to honor our democracy & its enduring values. I will never stop believing in our country & its future."

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Hillary and Bill Clinton arrive for the ceremony

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Former president George Bush arrives with wife Laura

Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage, who was the first British politician to meet Mr Trump after his election victory, has travelled to Washington for the ceremony.

The 70-year-old Mr Trump stayed the night at an official guest house near the White House and then attended a morning prayer service at St. John's Episcopal Church, a block away.

Mr Trump, wearing a dark suit and red tie, was accompanied by his wife, Melania, clad in a classic-styled, powder blue ensemble, and his family.

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The Obamas welcomed the Trumps to the White House

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Barack Obama welcomes Melania Trump to the White House

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Barack Obama departs the Oval Office for the last time as president

Streets near the president's home were blocked to traffic by empty buses and dump trucks or temporary pedestrian security checkpoints where law enforcement officers and National Guard troops checked people's bags.

Checkpoints around the National Mall in front of the Capitol opened early to begin admitting guests, some of them wearing red caps bearing Mr Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan.

They were barred from bringing selfie sticks, coolers for beverages, and long umbrellas despite the rainy weather.

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Melania and Trump leave the church

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Today Trump will become the 45th president of the US

Most of the area was orderly, but about 100 protesters shouted slogans near one checkpoint and linked arms to block people from entering.

Police in riot gear pushed them back into an intersection to allow people attending the inauguration to reach the checkpoints.

Thousands of anti-Trump protesters are expected among the inauguration crowd and many demonstrators will participate in a "Women's March on Washington" on Saturday.

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Trump is at a church close to the White House in Washington

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People gather to watch the inauguration in Washington DC

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US President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania leave St. John's Episcopal Church on January 20, 2017, before Trump's inauguration.

Protests are also planned in other cities in the US and Britain.

Dignitaries and VIPs have begun arriving at the US Capitol building ahead of Mr Trump's swearing-in ceremony.

Among them are former president Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary, whom Mr Trump defeated in a bitter contest that left America divided.

Former vice president Dick Cheney was also seen arriving at the Capitol, pausing to chat with Mr Trump's new chief strategist, former Breitbart News boss Steve Bannon.

More to follow…

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