A Paris court has suspended the corruption trial of France’s former President, Jacques Chirac, in response to a legal challenge.

A lawyer for one of nine co-defendants had argued that it was unconstitutional to merge two cases arising from Mr Chirac’s tenure as mayor of Paris.

The judge, Dominique Pauthe, said the court would reconvene on 20 June.

Mr Chirac denies paying members of his RPR party between 1977 and 1995 for municipal jobs that did not exist.

He is the first French ex-head of state to face a criminal trial since wartime leader Field Marshal Philippe Petain was convicted of treason.