Embattled French presidential candidate Francois Fillon is said to be facing further legal action by the country's financial prosecutor.

The claim in the newspaper Journal de Dimanche follows an investigation into alleged "fake work" by his wife which has badly dented his election campaign hopes.

The paper suggests Mr Fillon's case could now either be put before a criminal court or an investigating magistrate, who would decide whether to step up the probe.

Penelope Fillon was allegedly paid hundreds of thousands of euros in taxpayers' money for work she may not have done.

The 62-year-old conservative candidate and former prime minister, who had been the election favourite, has publicly apologised for hiring family members.


However, he has insisted the work his wife did for him was genuine and he did nothing illegal.

Francois Fillon apologises for 'mistake'

:: Profile - who is Francois Fillon?

The probe has widened and he is accused of embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds regarding parliamentary jobs held by Mrs Fillon, 62, and two of their five children, Marie and Charles, who are in their 30s.

Investigators have interviewed the two children as part of the probe into paid - but allegedly fake - jobs working for their father.

Politicians are allowed to hire family members as aides in France, but it is frowned on by many voters.

Mr Fillon, who served as prime minister from 2007 to 2012, is accused of paying his Welsh-born wife €830,000 (£708,000) during the 15 years she worked on and off as his parliamentary assistant.

French newspaper Le Canard Enchaine claimed investigators have found "no material evidence" that Mr Fillon's wife carried out the work for which she was paid €3,700 (£3,100) a month.

Image: Mr Fillon has vowed to continue his election campaign

His lawyer Antonin Levy has said his client has given "explanations" regarding the work done by his children between 2005 and 2007.

Mr Fillon has also vowed to continue his campaign ahead of April's election despite losing his front runner position to centre candidate Emmanuel Macron.

Mr Fillon has slumped in the opinion polls, with one survey by Odoxa for France Info radio suggesting seven out of 10 voters want him to step down.

Deepening 'fake jobs' scandal threatens Fillon

The same poll found 74% of people had a negative opinion of him, and 53% of right-wing voters want him replaced.

Latest polls indicate far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen coming top in the first round of voting on 23 April, with Mr Macron second and Mr Fillon a few points behind in third.

Under France's electoral system, the top two from the opening round go into a run-off, and polls show either Mr Macron or Mr Fillon winning comfortably against Ms Le Pen.