Early indications show France's far-right Front National has been beaten into third place in the second round of regional elections.

The party failed to win a single region, despite leading in six of 13 regions in the first round of votes a week ago.

Exit polls suggest Nicolas Sarkozy's centre-right Republican party is ahead of the ruling Socialists.

While FN leader Marine Le Pen and her niece were both candidates and early projections suggest both have failed to be elected.