A French presidential hopeful married to an Abergavenny native has been placed under formal investigation alleging he paid his wife hundreds of thousands for a fake job.

Francois Fillon, husband to Llanover-born Penelope, is suspected of paying almost half a million Euros in public money to his wife and children for jobs prosecutors allege did not exist.

The Les Republicains candidate was a nailed-on frontrunner for the French top job until news of the scandal engulfed his bid and torpedoed his status as clear favourite.

He denies any wrongdoing, earlier this month vowing to crowds of supporters that he would fight on, despite growing calls for him to exit the increasingly fractious race.

The former prime minister has now fallen behind challengers centrist Emmanuel Macron, and leader of Front National, Marine Le Pen.

Today, Mr Fillon, 63, was placed under formal investigation over the claims he paid his wife public money for parliamentary assistant work prosecutors allege she did not carry out.

Investigators are also probing payments made to his children Charles, and Marie, when Mr Fillon was a senator. He claims both were paid for legal work, despite neither holding law qualifications at the time.

Mr Fillon now faces charges of diverting public funds, misappropriating funds, receiving funds and failing to declare assets fully.

The right-wing candidate previously said it would be ‘inconceivable’ for a hopeful to remain in the race for the Elysees whilst under judicial investigation, a reality under which he now finds himself.

The two-round French presidential elections will be held in April and May later this year.