French sheep breeders take flocks to Eiffel Tower

Several hundred French breeders brought sheep to graze near the Eiffel Tower on Thursday to protest what they say is insufficient aid to help revive a sector endangered by surging costs and low selling prices.

Sheep farmers say a 250-million-euro (211 million pounds) government plan unveiled on Wednesday to boost falling farm income, including 50 million euros for sheep breeders, did not go far enough.

"It’s a first step, but it doesn’t meet our needs," Serge Preveraud, president of French sheep breeders union FNO, told Reuters above the peal of mountain bells.