French unions are staging a day of nationwide strikes and demonstrations in opposition to the government's pension reforms - the third in a month.

Unions and police say Tuesday's protests in Paris are the biggest so far, estimating a turnout of 330,000 and 89,000 respectively.

The cabinet wants to raise the minimum retirement age from 60 to 62.

Some unions will vote later on Tuesday to decide whether to escalate their protests with open-ended strikes.