French election: Emmanuel Macron beats Marine Le Pen in first round

The centrist Emmanuel Macron and the far right's Marine Le Pen have been back on the campaign trail as they prepare to go head-to-head for the French presidency in two weeks.

The pair emerged as the winners overnight of the hard fought first round of the contest to replace Francois Hollande as French leader.

Ms Le Pen launched the first broadside of the run-off campaign, claiming her opponent is "weak" in the face of Islamist terrorism during a walkabout in Rouvroy, while Mr Macron was mobbed by supporters as he left his home in Paris.

Despite Mr Macron being a relative political novice who has never held elected office before, polls have consistently suggested if he went up against Le Pen in the final battle he would easily win.

:: French election: What happens next?

And he already has the momentum on his side with the defeated socialist candidate Benoit Hamon and republican Francois Fillon pledging to throw their weight behind him.

The 39-year-old former banker has also won the backing of EU leaders and France's Muslim and Jewish communties since he topped the poll in the first round.

But Ms Le Pen countered by portraying her opponent's political endorsements as "the discredited old guard of the Republic trying to coalesce around Emmanuel Macron".

Her followers were also keen to contrast her presence in France's industrial heartland with Mr Macron's decision to hold a glitzy celebration in an upmarket Paris bistro on Sunday night.

:: Who is Emmanuel Macron?

In his victory speech Mr Macron told supporters of his fledgling En Marche movement that they were "the image of renewal" and said he owed his victory to them, reflecting the grassroots movement which secured his victory just a year after setting up the party.

Seeking to counter Ms Le Pen's "France-first" policies, he said: "I want to be the president of patriots in the face of threats from nationalists."

His spokesman Benjamin Griveaux told Sky News that Mr Macron would not seek to "punish" Britain for Brexit if he becomes president.

Mr Griveaux said Mr Macron would push for a "clear and responsible" Brexit - but warned the UK would not get the benefits of EU single market membership without free movement and a financial contribution.

:: Euro surge as Macron leads French election

But Mr Macron still faces a challenge convincing some voters he has the experience and clout to become president.

He will struggle to secure the votes of many on the left after defeated candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon refused to back either him or Ms Le Pen insisting that he had no mandate from his supporters to do so.

That stance provoked fierce criticism from many who said Mr Melenchon had a duty to oppose extremism.

The far right have sought to take advantage of Mr Melenchon's position - with the Front National's vice president Louis Aliot presenting the party as the logical choice for anti-EU voters.

For her part Ms Le Pen - who would become France's first female president if she won - vowed to fight to the finish.

She has worked hard to soften her party's image and garnered support from many voters by portraying herself as an anti-establishment candidate who would defend French interests and jobs against the demands of the EU and globalisation.

:: Who is Marine Le Pen

She told supporters that "the great issue in this election is the rampant globalisation that is putting our civilisation at risk" and that Mr Macron's policies would lead to mass immigration and free movement of terrorists.

:: French election night as it happened

But her strong rhetoric against Islamic extremism and calls to close France's borders after last week's attack in Paris failed to give her the extra bounce she needed.

Ms Le Pen seems destined to suffer the same fate as her father Jean-Marie, who was crushed by Jacques Chirac in the 2002 run-off.

:: How do the French elections work?

Surveys suggest Mr Macron will win that contest by over 60%, to the relief of many EU leaders.

The German Chancellor Angela Merkel tweeted: "Good that @EmmanuelMacron succeeded with his policy for a strong EU and social market economy. Wishing him all the best for the next two weeks."

French police said six officers and three protesters were injured and 29 people were arrested during election night violence, which saw cars burned and confrontations between riot police and demonstrators in Paris.