Spanish miners protest austerity measures - in pictures

For more than three weeks Spanish miners have been on strike, staging increasingly violent protests over austerity measures leading to subsidy reductions. In this demonstration in Caborana, near Oviedo, northern Spain, miners blocked roads with burning tyres Photograph: Cesar Manso/AFP/Getty Images

The clashes with authorities have taken place almost daily since industrial action began, with miners saying they have nothing to lose Photograph: Cesar Manso/AFP/Getty Images

Striking miners fire homemade rockets during clashes with riot police in the northern province of Asturias Photograph: JL Cereijido/EPA

Protesters have used rockets, stones, nuts and bolts in their running battles with police Photograph: Cesar Manso/AFP/Getty Images

In this picture taken on 6 July, miners block the A6 highway in Trabadelo, Castile and Leon Photograph: Ana F Barredo/EPA

Government officials have warned that the miners will be held responsible for any future clashes Photograph: Ana F Barredo/EPA

Miners set up roadblocks on the A231 (Leon-Burgos) and the C614 (Guardo-Palencia) in both directions on 28 June Photograph: Bragimo/EPA

Miners argue that Spain's limited energy resources mean the country must keep the mines open to protect itself against future shocks and price rises in the global energy market Photograph: Cesar Manso/AFP/Getty Images

A miner is engulfed in flames after pouring petrol from a bridge on to a fire of tyres and trees to cut off a road during a demonstration in El Entrego, near Langreo, northern Spain Photograph: Cesar Manso/AFP/Getty Images

Trade unions have denounced the violent protests saying: 'We are not responsible for these sort of actions' Photograph: Reuters

Coal miner Rocio Antela, 29, protests with others against the proposed cut in coal production funding in front of the regional parliament in Oviedo, northern Spain. Antela has been working as an assistant in the 'Pozo Santiago' mine and is studying for a degree in mine engineering Photograph: Eloy Alonso/Reuters

Relatives of coal miners join the protest outside the regional parliament building Photograph: Eloy Alonso/Reuters

This week protesters began a march to Madrid. Miners from Teruel raise their fists on arrival at Azuqueca de Henares, Guadalajara, in central Spain, where they were received by the mayor. The miners spent the night there before continuing to Madrid Photograph: Pepe Zamora/EPA

Marching miners from Leon and Asturias are provided with food on their arrival at Las Rozas, near Madrid Photograph: Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty Images

It is 284 miles from the Asturian valleys to Madrid but those making the trip feel they have little to lose as savage cuts loom Photograph: Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty Images

Around 200 miners are expected to arrive in Madrid Photograph: Andrea Comas/Reuters

These miners are on the last stage of what's become known as 'marcha negra', the black march, on 10 July Photograph: Andrea Comas/Reuters