The two frontrunners in France's presidential election locked horns in a fiery exchange over Europe in a televised debate on Tuesday night as centrist Emmanuel Macron accused the far-Right Front National leader Marine Le Pen of "peddling the same lies as your father".

The four hour debate involved for the first time all 11 candidates - five main contenders and six "smaller" rivals some of whom draw one percent or less of support in polls, and a majority of which were against the European Union.

Halfway into the programme, Mr Macron rounded on the FN leader, who wants to leave the euro, hold a referendum on EU membership and stop immigration, saying her protectionist stance would lead to "economic war".

"Nationalism is war. I know it. I come from a region that is full of graveyards," he said.

The centrist, who claims to be the most pro-European of candidates, comes from the Somme region, which is littered with tombs from the First World War.

Ms Le Pen hit back: "You shouldn't pretend to be something new when you are speaking like old fossils that are at least 50 years old."