High life to end

A French court ordered a group of young squatters to quit a 17th century mansion they are occupying in one of Paris's most picturesque squares.

Students and activists moved into the exclusive Place des Vosges residence in October to highlight the city's many housing problems, with thousands of properties lying vacant and rents often too high for the poorly paid.

The house was built by an adviser to King Louis XIII 400 years ago and was the home to generations of wealthy Parisians. Its owner is a frail 87-year-old woman who has not lived there for years and does not have the money to maintain it.

However, her lawyers say the house remains her primary residence and said the squatters' presence in the vast, abandoned property was causing their client immense distress.

The squatters' lawyer, Pascal Winter, promised to appeal against the ruling.

He said that under the law, everyone in France had the right to a roof over their head.