Abortion supporters dressed as "handmaids" from dystopian novel and TV series 'The Handmaid's Tale' protested outside the US Embassy in London on Saturday (May 7).

The protesters were seen wearing red cloaks and white bonnets with their heads bowed, holding signs including "this is how it starts" and "The Handmaid's Tale was not an instruction manual". In the universe of the popular series, fertile women are captured and forced to have children.

In recent years, abortion supporters have been spotted dressed in handmaid outfits at protests around the world, including the United States, Ireland and Argentina.

Protests have taken place in the US and UK following leaked draft plans earlier this week that the US Supreme Court might overturn Roe v Wade, historic legislation that legalised abortion across the United States.