Students have blocked roads and central squares in the Italian capital, Rome, as part of nationwide protests against proposed spending cuts in the university system.

Thousands of protesters gathered early in the morning of what they had called Block Everything Day before marching towards the capital's historic centre.

Riot police cordoned off the Chamber of Deputies, where MPs debated a bill on education reform.

Students argue that the proposed cuts breach their right to education.

The government defended the proposed reform, which is aimed at saving billions of euros and creating a more merit-based system.

Protesters also blocked a road in Bologna and disrupted traffic and rail services in Italy's main cities, including Turin, Milan, Pisa and Venice.