Following a marathon overnight debate, the French parliament has rejected an attempt by the conservative opposition to defeat a bill improving the legal rights of unmarried couples.

Debate will resume on the bill on Saturday.

Its key innovation is a contract called the Civil Solidarity Pact open to cohabiting heterosexual and homosexual couples Conservative opponents of the reform say it will pave the way for gay marriage and undermine Christian family values.

They have tabled more than one-thousand amendments and last night, one right-wing deputy, Christine Bourtin, spoke for more than five hours against the bill.