A far-Right election candidate in France is facing prosecution for unveiling an election poster reading: 'Let's give white children a future.'

The slogan is accompanied by an image of a blond-haired, blue-eyed boy, and is in support of Pierre-Nicolas Nups of the Parti de la France (Party of France).

Pascal Schneider, the mayor of Neuves-Maisons near Nancy and one of the biggest towns in the constituency, said: 'This poster is nothing more or less than a rag that sullies the city, the canton, the entire department.'

Mr Schneider said he had filed a legal complaint with public prosecutors, claiming the poster whips up racist hate.

But Mr Nups, who is standing in the 5th constituency of the eastern Meurthe-et-Moselle department, said in retort: 'I approved this poster. It is neither sectarian nor exclusive.

'On the contrary, it delivers a positive message, a message of hope for our youth, and nothing else. And if anyone sees anything else in it, it would be a malicious interpretation.'

It comes as France prepares for one of the most divisive polls in its history, with even President Emmanuel Macron warning that a civil war is a possibility should either the far-Right National Rally party or a far-Left coalition led by the France Unbowed party. 

The far-Right National Rally (RN) is currently ahead in the polls, despite a history soiled by racism, including Holocaust denial.

Its founder, Jean Marie Le Pen, is a convicted anti-Semite, but his daughter – Marine Le Pen – has insisted that she has cleaned it up and made it fit for government.

The Parti de la France is an offshoot of the Front National, founded by supporters of Jean Marie Le Pen, but candidates such as Mr Schneider are not being endorsed by the RN.