Activists began the protest at 9:30 pm local time on the “Europe” bridge in Laval.

Several farmers were taken into custody, according to local media.

The demonstration was scheduled prior to the arrival of European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan in Paris on Thursday. Crowds carried a banners saying: “Europe is killing its farmers. Phil Hogan sold himself to the USA.”

French farmers are furious with European politicians who have imposed sanctions on Russia. As a result, of the ban on exports this has  has resulted in a massive amount of produce flooding local markets which in turn  has allowed French supermarkets to demand lower prices for local products, leaving famers without a profit.

Last week, farmers met in protest near the Gare de Lyon railway station in Paris before moving to Porte de Vincennes. A similar rally against low prices took place in Montreuil, a commune in the eastern suburbs of Paris.