French police had to use a stun gun to take down an aggressive monkey that was running amok in a Marseilles neighbourhood, its rampage fuelled in part by chocolate given to it by children, according to a report from a French newspaper.

Police say the animal was being fed Kinder chocolates by local children. (La Provence)

The North African macaque was the subject of more than a dozen calls to police in the Castellanne neighbourhood — including one report that it scratched children at a local elementary school — over the last few weeks, according to La Provence.

Police say the animal was being fed Kinder chocolates by local children.

Authorities say it was likely abandoned recently after being kept illegally. The animal may have been abused and an investigation to locate its previous owner has been opened, one report says.

The monkey's rampage ended Monday after police used the stun gun to subdue it.