A spokeswoman for Metro International said the CGT members, who are opposed to the papers production and distribution by non-union labour, raided the Chateau Renard printers in Marseilles.

"Our Paris edition was forced to move from the printers Aubervilliers, in Paris, to Luxembourg, where 200,000 copies were printed overnight," she said.

Copies were then moved into Paris for distribution.

The spokeswoman said distributors have been holding talks with unions since the disruption, but the message that had come out was that "a free newspaper was not welcome in France".

The Paris edition is being printed in Luxembourg until the dispute is resolved.

As one of the largest cities in Europe, Paris has been described as "an ideal location", by Metro International president and chief executive, Pelle Trnberg, who said Marseilles had a similar thriving commercial environment.

Metro intends to increase circulation to a target of up to 300,000 copies in Paris, making Metro the largest daily newspaper in Central Paris, and up to 100,000 copies in Marseilles.

Metro is the worlds largest free circulation newspaper, publishing 22 editions in 15 countries.

Story by Andy Scott