The mother of Lee Rigby, the fusilier murdered in Woolwich, has called for people to stop using her son's memory to "fuel arguments against the Black Lives Matter protests."

Posting on the Lee Rigby Foundation Facebook page, Lyn Rigby said her family were aware of a number of posts using images of Lee and his murder "in a divisive way and to cause hate."

In a powerful statement, Ms Rigby said she found the posts "extremely heartbreaking and distressing, and in complete opposition to what Lee stood for."

"Seeing his image used to cause hate of any kind, especially for those exercising their freedoms in protest against this issue, hurts."

Private Lee Rigby, of the Royal Fusiliers, was murdered in May 2013 at the age of 25 on the streets of Woolwich, London, by two Islamic extremists, Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, who are both serving life sentences.

Over the past week, millions have taken to the streets and social media in protest over the death of George Floyd in the US, who was murdered after a white police officer knelt on his neck for over eight minutes in Minneapolis in May.

The death has led to violent protests throughout the US, and in the last few days sparked a Black Lives Matter movement across the globe, including in the UK.

Despite widespread support for the protestors, some people opposed to the Black Lives Matter movement have negatively compared Mr Rigby's death and reaction to it with that or Mr Floyd.

Mrs Rigby wrote: "Lee proudly served his country to protect the rights and freedoms of all members of this great melting pot of a nation."

"We ask you all to please stop using his image and memory in such posts as he was a lover of all of humanity. Every race, gender, creed, sexuality and colour.

"So seeing such use of his name harms not only his family but his legacy and memory."

Mrs Rigby added: "Our thoughts and support goes out to George Floyd's friends and family at this tragic time."