France election: polls open as Macron and Le Pen battle for presidency

Emmanuel Macron goes into the election with a reasonable lead in polls over Marine Le Pen, after a fractious campaign

The polls have opened in mainland France for the second round of the presidential election in which voters will choose to give Emmanuel Macron another five years in office or elect Marine Le Pen.

Macron is favourite to win but any second term will be determined by whether he finishes with a convincing victory. Both he and Le Pen need to have convinced the almost 50% of voters who did not choose either of them in the first round ballot two weeks ago.