Thousands of protesters clashed with police and rampaged through the streets of Brussels on Wednesday as demonstrations over education cuts descended into violent disorder in the heart of the Belgian capital.

Footage from the scene showed masked demonstrators hurling fireworks, setting fires in the road and smashing property as riot police deployed water cannons in an attempt to regain control of the city centre.

At least 1,000 people gathered in Brussels to protest against planned austerity measures affecting French-language education, but the atmosphere quickly turned hostile as groups of protesters confronted officers and caused widespread damage.