Shops are boarded up amid fears of left-wing riots as far-right National Rally wins first round of snap French election

Cities across France are once again set to burn, as militant activists take to the streets to violently protest the results of the first round of the snap election, which saw the far-right National Rally party soar ahead in the polls. 

Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN) won the first round of legislative elections on Sunday, leaving incumbent president Emmanuel Macron's centrist alliance lagging in a distant third behind the left, projections by polling groups said overnight.