Clashes have broken out between groups of masked men and police in Barcelona after tens of thousands of people took part in Spain's first general strike for 14 years, called by the country's main unions over housing and the high cost of living.

Axar.az reports, citing BBC, some 120,000 people joined a demonstration in the capital Madrid and more than 50,000 turned out in Barcelona, where footage showed masked men setting fire to rubbish bins and smashing shop windows as police fired tear gas.

Transport and other public services across Spain faced serious disruption.

Spaniards are due to vote in parliamentary elections on 29 November.

The head of the big UGT labour union, Pepe Alvarez, said the strike was a success with "massive" participation, while Unai Sordo of the CC OO union said turnout was "very significant."

There was a heavy police presence in the centre of Barcelona on Wednesday evening, with officers wearing helmets and riot shields.

Some of the disturbances took place in the Passeig de Gracia, close to the iconic Placa de Catalunya in the centre of the city.

Small fires burned in the middle of the streets as bins were set alight. Local media reported that a group of people fired fireworks towards police and looted shops including the Lego store. Protesters were also seen trying to enter the Apple Store.