Hospital workers, air traffic and rail staff expected to join industrial action as 70,000 police officers deployed across country

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to march in demonstrations across France as trade unions call for a nationwide strike expected to extend to hospital workers, air traffic control, the post office, teachers and rail staff.

A total of 70,000 police officers were deployed across France on Thursday morning as street demonstrations began in cities including Marseille, Grenoble and Lyon.