The French Left-wing opposition has defended public displays of joy that followed the death of the far-Right veteran Jean-Marie Le Pen.

Mr Le Pen, the co-founder of the National Front (FN) died on Tuesday aged 96.

He had a long history of provocative outbursts and several convictions for racism and anti-Semitism, notably for calling the Nazi gas chambers a “detail of history”.

While members of the National Rally (RN), the party that Mr Le Pen’s daughter Marine renamed after she took over in 2011, paid tribute, the Left branded him a fascist.

In the hours after his death, hundreds of people took to the streets in cities across France in spontaneous gatherings to fete his demise – chanting, letting off fireworks and making champagne toasts.

Jubilant opponents of Mr Le Pen cheered as they gathered in Place de la République in central Paris for what they dubbed an “apero giant” (giant aperitif), brandishing placards including “the dirty racist is dead” and “a beautiful day”.