
A Porsche was set alight by angry protesters who took to the streets of western France to demonstrate against a hotly contested labour bill.

The rioters in Nantes were among 170,000 of workers and students involved in violent clashes across France which left three policemen with serious injuries in the French capital.

Security forces in Paris responded with tear gas as masked youths threw bottles and cobblestones, as violence erupted in Nantes, Lyon and Toulouse and 57 people were arrested in Marseille today. In total, 124 people were arrested nationwide.

Engulfed in flames: A Porsche is set alight in Nantes in western France by angry protesters demonstrating against a contested labour bill

Torched: The protesters who set this car alight were among tens of thousands of workers and students involved in clashes across France

Violent clashes: French anti-riot police officers clash with protesters during a demonstration in Paris against the hotly contested labour bill

A young man holding a tennis racket throws a projectile at anti-riot police during clashes in Nantes, western France, earlier today

Police officers in riot gear drag a protester along the ground in Nantes, western France, where a car was set alight during a demonstration

Protesters are pictured through tear gas as they protest against the the reform, billed as an effort to reduce chronic unemployment

The demonstrations as well as work stoppages, notably in the aviation and public transport sectors, were the latest actions in a protest wave that began two months ago.

Opponents of the reform, billed as an effort to reduce chronic unemployment - which stands at 10 per cent overall - say it will threaten cherished workers' rights and deepen job insecurity for young people.

'Be Young and Shut Up!' read one banner at a protest in south western Toulouse, highlighting the frustration of youths facing an unemployment rate of 25 per cent.

'Over the past 10 years or so things have deteriorated horribly for young people,' said retiree Gilles Cavaliere at the Lyon protest.

Also on Thursday, striking aviation workers caused one in five flights to be cancelled at Paris's Orly airport, while delays were reported at Charles de Gaulle airport.

And newsstands were devoid of national dailies after printers downed tools.

Riot police face off with protesters during a demonstration in Paris, France, which left three policemen with serious injuries

An injured man lies on the ground next to French anti-riot police following clashes during a demonstration in Paris, France, today

Tens of thousands of workers and students were involved in violent clashes across France today. Pictured: Protesters in Paris

A man throws pink paint in Lille, France, as tens of thousands of people took to the streets to protest against the contested labour bill

French anti-riot police help an injured officer lying on the ground following clashes with protestors during a demonstration in Paris

A helicopter flies over riot police during clashes as part of a protest against a reform, billed as an effort to reduce chronic unemployment

A protester holds a lit flare during a demonstration in Paris today. Young people have been at the forefront of the protest movement

The unions and student organisations plan to pile on the pressure with further protests on Sunday to mark the May Day labour holiday, as well as next Tuesday, when parliament begins debating the bill.

Christophe Sirugue, the Socialist lawmaker who is presenting the bill to parliament after it was reviewed in committee, said Thursday that several points still needed 'clarification' but that he expected the bill to pass.

Among the remaining issues are measures to make it easier to lay off workers in lean times, and whether employers should still be allowed to shed workers if conditions are depressed in their overseas operations and not just in France.

Another is a proposed surtax on short-term contracts aimed at getting employers to hire more people on permanent contracts, Sirugue told reporters.

Young people have been at the forefront of the protest movement, with many young workers stuck on short-term contracts or internships while hoping to secure a permanent job.

Protests against the reform kicked off on March 9, culminating in massive demonstrations on March 31 that brought 390,000 people on to the streets, according to an official count. Organisers put the number at 1.2 million.

The protests spawned a new youth-led movement called 'Nuit Debout' (Up All Night), which has seen advocates of a broad spectrum of causes gather in city squares at night for the past four weeks to demand change, though attendance has been dwindling in recent days.

The unions and student organisations plan to pile on the pressure with further protests on Sunday to mark the May Day labour holiday

Protests against the reform kicked off on March 9, culminating in massive demonstrations on March 31 that brought 390,000 people on to the streets. Pictured: An anti-riot police office aims his teargas grenade gun in Nantes

Riot police stand guard during a demonstration in Lille (pictured left) and a protester during clashes in Nantes (right) earlier today

Young people have been at the forefront of the protest movement, with many young workers stuck on short-term contracts or internships while hoping to secure a permanent job. Pictured: A policeman kicks a flare stick thrown at him by protesters

Protesters clash with riot police on the Place de la Nation in Paris. They were among tens of thousands of demonstrators who took to the streets today

Smoke rises from burning barricades as trade unionists block roads in Le Havre, north western France, today. Protesters blocked roads with burning tyres in the northern French port

Demonstrators march together carrying banners during a protest against labour reforms in Nantes in western France earlier today

With little more than a year left in his mandate, France's deeply unpopular President Francois Hollande has been banking on the labour reform as a standout initiative with which to defend his record.

But in the face of the protests his Socialist government has watered down the labour reforms - only to anger bosses while failing to assuage workers.