Nationwide strikes cause French chaos

Nationwide strikes in France have caused major disruption to trains, planes, schools and other public services as unions set up dozens of street protests across the country.

Public servants want better wages and are protesting against the planned loss of 120,000 jobs by 2022.

Employees of the national railway company SNCF reject a government plan aimed at adapting the company ahead of opening the service to competition.

According to airport authorities, 30 per cent of flights to and from Paris were cancelled. SNCF said 40 per cent of high-speed trains and half of regional trains were running.