Flights and trains to France have been cancelled ahead of a national strike, which began at 7pm on Wednesday.

Several unions have called for workers to take industrial until 7am on Friday.

Airlines and train operators are warning disruption could last until the weekend.

Eurostar has already cancelled a total of 14 trains between London and Paris and six trains between London and Lille, Brussels, Rotterdam and Amsterdam on Thursday and one train in each direction on the London to Paris route on Friday.

EasyJet said the strike is likely to affect flights, adding: “If you are due to travel to or from France during this period please check the status of your flight on Flight Tracker before you leave for the airport, which is available online or through the easyJet app.

“As national and local rail services may also be affected, please plan your journey in advance and allow plenty of time for your journey to and from the airport.”

One in five flights from Paris Orly airport is likely to be grounded, according to the French aviation regulator DGAC. Air France has already cancelled dozens of flights, with Orly apparently the worst-affected airport, but many services to and from Charles de Gaulle have also been grounded.

The Foreign Office updated its travel advice to warn of potential demonstrations and disruption to services in France.

“Please check the latest advice with operators before travelling, avoid demonstrations and follow the advice of local authorities,” it added.

The Paris Metro will be heavily disrupted, according to media reports, with three lines totally shut down and the vast majority of RER commuter trains cancelled. Two out of three high-speed TGV lines will also be cancelled.

The strikes have been called by unions opposing the French Government’s plan to increase the retirement age by two years to 64.