U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to the UK in July cost police around £18 million ($23.8 million), police estimate.

The amount is more than 10 times the cost for Barack Obama's last journey to Britain as president in 2016.

After being delayed several times, Trump's controversial four-day visit encountered large protests in London and throughout the country.

Organizers estimated that 250,000 people took part in the main rally, which required police to close off Trafalgar Square in the center of the capital after it reached capacity.

Nearly 10,000 police officers from across the country were deployed to cover the events, performing more than 26,000 shifts, Sara Thornton, head of the National Police Chiefs' Council, said.

"This was a significant operation with the President visiting four force areas and protests taking place in many others," Thornton added.

"The full cost of the operation is still being worked out but an early estimate is nearly £18 million."

By comparison, Barack Obama's 2016 visit cost police just £1.7 million ($2.2m), according to the Metropolitan Police.

Trump met with Prime Minister Theresa May and had tea with Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle during the trip.

But his visit was overshadowed by one of the largest protests in Britain since a million people demonstrated against the UK's role in the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

The anti-Trump protests featured a 20-foot "Trump Baby" blimp that flew outside London's Houses of Parliament.

Police in Scotland also arrested a paragliding protester, who flew close to Trump as he visited his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland.

"The majority of forces had to cancel officers' rest days and extend the length of their shifts," Thornton said. 

(Source: CNN)