Paris has been hit with a second day of riots as thousands hit the streets to protest against the introduction of gay marriage in France.

Since yesterday, 293 people have been arrested, with 231 of those charged with public order offences.

Most of the trouble started on Sunday night, following a mass rally in the centre of the city which attracted around 150,000 people.

The worst clashes were between CRS riot police and hooded right-wing ‘ultras’ around famous monuments including Les Invalides, where Napoleon Bonaparte is buried.

‘Traditional France has been threatened by these new measures and that’s why we have taken to the streets,’ said Jerome Martin, a 23-year-old protester.

Mr Martin spoke as hundreds threw rocks and smoke bombs at the police, who responded with tear gas and baton charges.

There were numerous injuries on both sides, with the worst fights breaking out on the grass esplanade opposite Les Invalides, and in surrounding streets.

Journalists were also attacked, with at least two seriously injured.

The area is next door to the French parliament, where President Francois Hollande’s Socialist government introduced and then passed the gay marriage bill.

It meant that France became the 14th country in the world to allow same sex unions.

The protests, which are strongly backed by the Roman Catholic Church, have become a chance for the French right to rally against the left.

Interior Minister Manuel Valls said some 100 known far-right protesters were among those arrested in the early hours of Monday.

Some 4,500 police officers were on duty in Paris on Sunday to deal with the huge crowds.

France’s first gay wedding is due to take place on Wednesday in Montpellier, in the south of the country.

Despite the violent rally, a survey published on Sunday showed 53 per cent of French people support gay marriage and adoption.