France’s “yellow vest” protesters blocked oil depots and roads across the country for a third day in a revolt against fuel price hikes that has seen motorists subjected to racist and homophobic attacks and left hundreds injured.

President Emmanuel Macron however showed no sign that he planned to back down over diesel and petrol price rises due in January that are part of his government’s plans to try and wean the French off fossil fuels.

A handful of skirmishes were reported on Sunday night, including in the northern port city of Calais where a British and an Australian truck driver were detained after trying to force their way through barricades in separate incidents. Both were reported to have been released a few hours after the incidents, which left three people with minor injuries.

Around 13,000 people were manning more than 300 barricades on motorways and roundabouts and other sites on Monday, according to police figures.

That was far less than the 280,000 who turned out on Saturday for the first day of the protests, which are named after the high-visibility vests that French motorists are legally obliged to carry in their vehicles.