Paris travel warning

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is warning travellers to France to be "extremely vigilant" following the outbreaks of violence in Paris.

It says visitors to any of the affected areas should avoid any demonstrations that may be taking place, and be aware that disturbances could occur almost anywhere in the present circumstances.

The French capital, a popular short-break destination for Brits, has endured 11 nights of rioting in which several thousand cars have been torched and where youths have clashed with police.

The rioting has spread to other French towns, including Rouen, Nantes, Rennes and Orleans.

"If you need to visit or transit any of the affected areas you are advised to be extremely vigilant and to avoid any demonstrations which may be taking place in and around the area," the FCO says in its travel bulletin.

"You should also be aware that in the present circumstances disturbances could occur almost anywhere."

The Paris violence has mainly affected the Seine-Saint-Denis area in the north-east of the city, but disturbances have also been reported in Val d’Oise, Yvelines, Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-et-Marne, Val-de-Marne, Essone, Evreux and Aulnay-sous-Bois.

Visitors are also being urged to take care in Dijon, Lille, Marseilles, Nice and Toulouse.

For more information see www.fco.gov.uk