Striking workers blocking oil refineries in France face police

French police have been sent in to restore access to oil refineries blockaded by striking workers, whose protests have threatened fuel shortages across the country.

Authorities restored access to three depots on Friday morning in an attempt to ease disruption, after the nation's 12 French oil refineries went on strike, Aljazeera reports.

The main lorry drivers' union, CFDT, called on its members to join the strikes. An official said the strike call had been approved late last night and the action could start immediately.

Most Paris transport workers were back at work today but about 20 per cent of workers on the high-speed SNCF rail system remained on strike and said they would stay out today, This is London informs.