Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy will face trial for influence peddling and the “active corruption” of a judge to secure leaked details of an inquiry into alleged electoral funding fraud, according to French reports.

The decision is the latest legal hammer blow to the former conservative French leader just days after he was placed under formal investigation over whether he had secretly received 50 million (£44m) from the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi to fund his successful 2007 presidential campaign.

Mr Sarkozy is already due to stand trial in a separate case of “illegal campaign funding” of his failed 2012 re-election bid.

But if his appeal fails, this will be the first time an ex-French president will stand trial for “active corruption” while in office. The charge carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison and a €150,000 fine. "Influence peddling" is punishable by a maximum five years in prison and a €500,000 fine.

Mr Sarkozy denies all charges.