Hundreds of demonstrations have taken place worldwide against a planned free trade agreement between the US and the EU – in one of the largest series of protests so far.

There is intense opposition to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). The next round of talks on the proposed pact are due to begin in New York on Monday, aiming to remove customs and regulatory barriers between the United States and Europe.

Saturday’s rallies were organised by an international alliance of non-governmental organisations, unions, political parties and other groups across some 45 countries.

An estimated 22,000 people marched in Austrian towns and cities. Many believe the pact will damage the country’s agricultural and pharmaceutical sectors as well as consumers.

In Vienna organisers said 15,000 turned out; the police put the number at 6,000. There were also demonstrations in Graz, Linz and Klagenfurt.

Of more than 200 protests across Germany on Saturday, more people turned o