A French newspaper has claimed that Swedish furniture giant Ikea paid for illegal access to police files on its staff and customers.

The weekly Le Canard Enchaine published what it said were emails where Ikea managers asked police for information.

More than 200 checks on criminal records and vehicle registrations were asked for, the paper says.

A spokesman for Ikea France vowed to investigate, but would not confirm or deny the allegations.

Christian Fraser reports from Paris.