France's Bastille Day celebrations descended into violence on Sunday as 175 anti-government demonstrators were arrested in Paris alone.

Tear gas and baton charges were used by police on the Champs-Elysee, where Emmanuel Macron became the first French president in recent history to be widely booed during the traditional National Day parade.

The humiliating jeers came as the head of state waved at crowds from a military command vehicle.

There were shouts of ‘Macron Resign!’ from the Gilets Jaunes – the Yellow Vest movement that had infiltrated the heavily policed Sunday morning event.

July 14 commemorates the storming of the Bastille during the French Revolution in 1789, and involves a large military parade and fly past.

Absolute respect for the world leaders present is expected, and this year they also included German chancellor Angela Merkel.

"The boos and whistles were non-stop and Macron certainly heard them all," said one of the protestors with the Yellow Vests, who are named after the high vis jackets they wear.

"We managed to get round security by leaving our yellow vests at home, and this allowed our protest to go ahead" they continued. "It’s a humiliating day for Macron."

There were similar protests organised in other French cities and towns, where other arrests were reported.

Among those manhandled by police during the booing in Paris was Eric Douet, one of the unofficial leaders of the Yellow Vests.

Video posted on social media showed him being dragged away from the side of the Champs Elysee before he was formally arrested, along with Jerome Rodrigues and Maxime Nicolle – two other well known Yellow Vests.

Mr Drouet has called for ‘a mass uprising without precedent by all useful and necessary means’ against the Macron administration.

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