'The accusations against the French president come ahead of elections he is polled to lose. Mr Sarkozy, 57, received a warm response from workers when he visited the social housing construction site in Mennecy, Essonne, near Paris on Thursday.

However, yesterday it was claimed that half the crowd of "workers" who braved the cold to meet the President had been specially drafted in for the occasion and had nothing to do with the building work.

"I only recognised two or three but I didn't know the others," Ambroise, one bona fide bricklayer told Europe 1 radio. "They wanted more people around Nicolas Sarkozy," he said, adding that there were twice as many workers than usual.'

Read more: Sarkozy Aaccused of Using 'Extras' to Pose as Supporters