More than 60 arrests have been made and one police officer has been hit by a Molotov cocktail during protests in France, officials have said.

France’s interior minister Gerald Darmanin said the majority of May Day protests were peaceful, but he said in Paris, Lyon and Nantes “police are faced with extremely violent thugs who have come with one objective, to kill police officers and attack the property of others”.

“This violence must be condemned without reservation,” he added.

Unions in the country had expected hundreds and thousands of people to come out to show their support on the first May Day since President Emmanuel Macron’s controversial pensions reforms.

New laws have seen the retirement age increased from 62 to 64.

May Day, which falls on May 1, is observed in many countries as a day to celebrate workers’ rights with rallies, marches and other events.

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Sky News’ Adam Parsons explains everything you need to know about the protests

French police clashed with protesters using tear gas as demonstrators pelted officers with Molotov cocktails, fireworks, torched ride-sharing bicycles and smashed up bus stops.

In Lyon and Nantes some vehicles were set on fire and business premises were trashed.