All Paris job centres closed

ALL job centres in the Paris area have closed to prepare for a flood of job seekers in September.

Around 250 Pôle emploi offices have shut their doors today to process a backlog of cases.

Pôle emploi regional director Raymond Lagré said the aim was to start September with "no ongoing cases".

France unemployment figures are expected to soar next month as a wave of new graduates and seasonal workers sign on.

Private companies have already been called on to help the national network of job centres in case it becomes overwhelmed.

Unemployment is expected to reach 10% by the end of the year.