Violence broke out across France on Saturday as a day of protests over the cost of living and conditions in schools turned into clashes, looting and arson, with more than a thousand people arrested.

The French government described an 'escalation in violence' as an estimated 550,000 people took to the streets. In Paris, riot police used tear gas and water cannon on crowds into the evening, and buildings and vehicles were set alight, including at the Place de la République. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said 150 police officers were injured.

In Limoges, a large fire at the town hall caused the roof and part of the building to collapse. In Lyon, the mayor, Grégory Doucet, called the burning of the city's tourist office 'a tragedy', saying it was a historic landmark, and police said 'hostile individuals' prevented firefighters from tackling the blaze safely. In Saint-Étienne, a young man lost a hand to a grenade, the city's mayor said.

Shops were ransacked in several cities, including an Apple store in Lille that was emptied, and a bar in Paris was gutted by fire. Damage to public buildings was reported in Grenoble, Avignon, Pau, Montpellier and Valence. The interior ministry blamed 'targeted acts of violence' by 'hooded individuals'.

The unrest followed weeks of student protests over staff shortages and run-down secondary schools, joined on Saturday by trade union members and the 'yellow vest' movement that campaigned against cost-of-living rises from 2018. President Emmanuel Macron said those who attacked buildings and looted 'will be prosecuted and punished'.