Second round votes in local elections

POLLING stations around France opened at 8.00 on Sunday morning as the second round of departmental elections take place in most areas.

The second round applies to 1,905 cantons - excluding the 149 where a clear winner emerged with a majority vote in the first round last Sunday.

The ballot is to elect each departmental council, which between them are responsible for a €70bn annual budget, three times more spending power than the regional councils. By midday, 15.6% of people had cast their vote.

Polls suggest the Socialists could lost 20 to 40 departments to the right - including Martine Aubry's department, the Nord.

It is also estimated that the Front National could come to power in a handful of areas, including the Vaucluse.

Topless protestors from the Femen feminist movement, wearing moustaches and carrying signs reading "I am a fascist" greeted Marine Le Pen as she turned up to vote in Hénin-Beaumont in the Pas-de-Calais.

President Hollande voted earlier in Tulle, Corrèze, before flying to Tunisia for anti-terrorist demonstration.

Polling station closing times vary between 18.00 and 20.00.