A major fire broke out in the cathedral in the western French city of Nantes on Saturday, blowing out stained glass windows and destroying the grand organ in the 15th-century building, officials said.

Hundreds of demonstrators faced police in a tense stand-off in the French city of Nantes on Saturday as revived ‘yellow vest’ protests against the government of President Emmanuel Macron took place across the country.

Dozens of cars and several buildings were torched in Nantes overnight as the western French city was rocked by a third night of rioting after police shot dead a young black man.

Referee Tony Chapron has been provisionally suspended after he appeared to kick out at Nantes player Diego Carlos in Sunday's French Ligue 1 game against Paris St Germain.

The Ouest-France newspaper reported that witnesses had spotted a man resembling Xavier Dupont de Ligonnes, leading police to raid the religious site in Roquebrune-sur-Argens in the Var region.

Thousands of demonstrators, some arriving by bicycle, some driving tractors, rallied Saturday to protest at a controversial airport development near the western French city of Nantes.

Paris Saint Germain take on Lorient at the Parc des Princes tomorrow, needing only to avoid defeat to break Nantes’ 20-year-old record unbeaten run in Ligue 1.