French Republican party presidential candidate Francois Fillon finds himself embroiled in scandal, as prosecutors are investigating how his wife earned her €500,000 salary.

As reported by the BBC:

Francois Fillon has hit back at claims that his British wife Penelope was paid large amounts of public money for doing a fake job as his parliamentary assistant.

In a television appearance on Thursday night, Mr Fillon insisted the work she did over more than eight years from 1997 was "real, legal and completely transparent".

Describing Mrs Fillon's work at his constituency in western France, he said she had "corrected speeches, met important visitors... and chaired meetings".

He went on to say that he did not "have the words to express his disgust" at the accusations in the media.

It was a strong counter-attack but the controversy is far from over. A judicial investigation will take weeks or months, meaning that throughout the general election campaign the candidate will be dogged by what is inevitably being dubbed Penelope-gate.