Tear gas engulfed central Marseille on Saturday as protesters clashed with riot police during the fifth weekend of nationwide unrest in France.

Footage shows demonstrators marching through the streets before blocking a residential road with rubbish bins and hurling sticks and other objects towards police.

Officers responded with tear gas and advanced on the crowd, forcing protesters and journalists back through thick clouds of smoke.

The unrest came despite a ban on undeclared demonstrations in Marseille from Friday night until early Monday. Authorities said no protest linked to the fifth act of the mobilisation had been formally declared.

Saturday's protests brought together Yellow Vest activists, students, workers, climate campaigners and groups calling for stronger protection of children and teenagers.

The demonstrations are part of a wider wave of unrest that began with school protests in September before spreading into anger over living costs, wages and pressure on public services.