Strikers cut power as thousands flood onto French streets

Street battle: Riot police and protesters clash in the city of Nantes yesterday during nationwide strikes. Photo: Getty Images

Henry Samuel
© Telegraph Media Group Limited

Hundreds of thousands joined a final national protest yesterday before Christmas against pension reform in France as President Emmanuel Macron's government pledged "total determination" to see the overhaul through.

Electricity workers caused chaos by cutting power to almost 100,000 homes overnight in Bordeaux and Lyon as part of the protest, warning bigger power cuts could follow.