Thousands of protesters take to the streets as French unions battle pension reforms

French ports in Marseilles remained closed today as more than three million people were expected to join striking workers in protests against plans to raise the country's retirement age.

President Sarkozy caused outrage in the France last month after plans to cut the deficit by raising retirement age from 60 to 62 were announced.

Strikes across France on September 23 sparked widespread chaos as work stoppages disrupted schools, international flights and public transport.

The banner depicting L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt reads 'Retirement with 60, because you're worth it'. French unions have called for a day of strikes and protests against the retirement reform

Now a fourth round of rallies is predicted to bring the country to a standstill as angry families, students and private sector workers join dockers at France's main Southern port of Marseilles.

Unions are on a war footing across Europe as governments slash spending to dig their way out of debts run up during the global recession of 2008-09, the worst since World War Two.

Tens of thousands of people marched through Brussels in a protest against spending cuts in the European Union.

In Barcelona, a general strike turned violent, with officers firing rubber bullets after being attacked by a mob who set police cars on fire.

Thousands of Britons were caught up in the chaos as the Spanish strikers grounded hundreds of flights.

Unions in France have braced themselves for further strike action as Sarkozy refused to change an of the key features of the pension reforms which are to be debated in the Senate from October 5.

Xavier Petrachi, a delegate at the CGT union in Toulouse, said: 'There are a lot more of us today than during the week.

'The demonstration's got a real family feel, buggies are out. France is protesting.'

Jean-Claude Mailly, head of the more radical Force Ouvriere union, added: 'We need a show of strength.

'The government is frozen. They are committed to meeting Brussels' three per cent target and are under the thumb of financial markets.'

The day of protest is the fourth round of rallies in as many months against a controversial bill that would raise the retirement age.

Stoppages have spread to other docks as protests over liberalisation in the shipping sector joined other protesters who are unhappy with pension reform.

Several cities have introduced diesel rationing amid fears that fuel that is usually transported by sea could run low.

About 230 more protests are scheduled across the country as a survery published by French daily newspaper L'Humanite showed more than 70 percent of people backed the day of action.

The government says its legislation is essential to erase a growing deficit in the pay-as-you-go pension system, curb rising public debt and preserve France's AAA credit rating, which enables it to borrow at low financial market rates.

The unions hoped that earlier strikes on September 23 would force the government to back down on the flagship reform of Sarkozy's five-year term.

But the Senate has said it will offer concessions, but has ruled out any changes to its key features to the policy as France already has the lowest retirement age in Europe.

The plan is said to be a major part of the government's plan to balance the system's finances by 2018.

Sarkozy said on Friday: 'I am listening to the protesters, I understand their anger, but the role of the head of state is to fulfill his responsibilities.

'The pension reform and budget cuts are essential for our competitiveness.'

French public and private workers shout slogans during a demonstration in Montpellier, southern France

French public and private workers hold a demonstration in Montpellier, southern France. The sign reads 'Against an unjust law. For a fair reform'