Mayoral races in balance as voting opens in last round of French local elections

Electoral alliances expected to play vital role in number of contests including Paris and Marseille

Voting is under way in France in the second round of local elections - seenas a bellwether for next year's presidential race - with cities including Paris and Marseille in the balance and both the radical left and far right hoping for gains.

Most of France's 35,000-odd communes elected their councils in the first round last Sunday, but in municipalities where the contest is tighter, including most large urban areas, the second round will be decisive, with electoral alliances playing a key role.