Francois Fillon, whose bid for the French presidency was derailed by a fake jobs scandal, is facing further embarrassment after claims that a mystery benefactor paid for nearly €50,000 worth of suits for him in a chic Left Bank shop.

Over the past five years the conservative candidate has received clothes worth €48,500 (£43,000) from Arnys, a made-to-measure clothing outlet for the rich and famous, the Journal du Dimanche claimed.

Of that amount, €35,500 was paid in cash, with a young woman usually bringing the money to the store on Rue de Sèvres, the weekly newspaper alleged.