Hundreds of thousands of workers have taken take part in strike action across France on Thursday, after trade unions called for a day of protests against budget cuts, BBC reported.

Organisers said one million people turned out, while the interior ministry put that number at 500,000, with 80,000 police officers deployed. 

Scuffles were reported in the cities of Lyon and Nantes, and in Paris small-scale clashes broke out between police and protesters. 

Officers in riot gear used tear gas and shields to disperse crowds in the centre of the capital after some protesters damaged a small number of businesses and buildings, according to BBC.