Mayor of French village fights school cuts with Viagra

The mayor of one French village has taken what can only be described as 'direct action' to protect the local school from the latest round of education cuts.

Jean Debouzy, mayor of the 600-resident village of Montereau, in the Loiret, has issued a municipal decree which offers free Viagra to couples between 18 and 40 years of age in a bid to boost future enrollment numbers at the school.

Mr Debouzy said he had been 'fighting' a decision of national school inspectors to cut one of the four classes from the school at the start of the new school year due to falling current and future pupil numbers.

The council is also set to discuss a proposed bonus for all couples living in the village on the birth of any child.

Mr Debouzy is not the only mayor in the Loiret to turn to decrees to raise an issue. Recently, the mayor of Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois issued an order preventing constituents from falling sick, to highlight the lack of doctors in the area.