Tens of thousands of people marched through the streets of Madrid to protest against Spain’s housing crisis after an 87-year-old woman was evicted from an apartment she had lived in for decades.

Maricarmen Abascal was given just 30 minutes to leave with only essential belongings, before she was forcibly removed from the building on a stretcher, accompanied by social services officials.

Ms Abascal, a wheelchair user, was driven away in an ambulance as supporters chanted “Murderers!” and “Maricarmen, you’re not alone!”

The apartment, in the capital’s affluent Retiro neighbourhood, had been acquired by an investment fund that wanted to sharply increase her rent.

Read more: Sign of the times: Spain housing crisis protest after 87-year-old woman evicted in half an hour by ‘investment fund’ from the property she has lived in for 71 years