Catalan authorities will not follow orders from the Spanish government if Madrid moves to reassert control over the region, a senior official says.

A regional government spokesman told the BBC that the central government was acting against the will of Catalans.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has announced plans to sack the region's government and curtail some of the powers of its parliament.

The Catalan parliament will meet on Thursday to decide on its response.

The pro-independence leaders could decide to formalise a unilateral declaration of independence, the BBC's Bethany Bell in Barcelona reports.

The Spanish Senate is expected to approve the government's measures on Friday along with a proposal for fresh regional elections.