France election: polls open with Macron and Le Pen vying closely for presidency

First round of voting begins, with eventual winner expected to be decided in runoff two weeks later

Polling stations have opened across mainland France for the first round of a fiercely contested presidential election.

Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen are the frontrunners among the 12 candidates to win through to the second round in two weeks but opinion polls have suggested the race will be close.