60,000 human chain over nuclear power

Thousands of environmental activists came together on Sunday to form a human chain covering the 230km between Lyon and Avignon.

Over 60,000 people are understood to have taken part in the anti-nuclear protest to mark the anniversary of the disaster at the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan.

Wearing fluorescent jackets and waving flags, the activists remained hand-in-hand for a few minutes in protest of France's reliance on nuclear energy which currently provides 75% of its power.

Organised by conservation group Sortir du Nucléaire and supported by French Green Party presidential candidate Eva Joly, the protest took place in the Rhône Valley, a region home to 14 nuclear reactors.

The demonstration was intended to highlight the risk of a nuclear catastrophe in France and encourage presidential candidates to commit to phasing out the plants and to look for alternative energy sources.