The far-right French National Front has expelled two leading members from its National Council meeting, and suspended their membership.

Both were close allies of Bruno Mégret, the party's deputy leader.

A BBC correspondent in Paris says the party leader, Jean-Marie Le Pen, has been isolating Mr Mégret and his supporters after a row over who should lead the party's list at next year's European election.

Our correspondent says the crisis which has now erupted into open conflict is perhaps the most serious in the party's history.