Women are banned from wearing trousers in Paris.

A rule banning women from dressing like men, specifically by donning trousers, was initially introduced in 1800 by the French capital's police chief.

It has since survived numerous attempts to repeal it - as recently as 2003 - although the ruling has gone through a number of revisions.

The original 1800 law stated any Parisienne wanting to dress in the male fashion: "Must present herself to the city's main police station to obtain authorisation".

In 1892 it was changed to allow women to wear trousers as long as they held the reigns of a horse, and in 1909 it allowed women trousers if they were on a bicycle.

Unsuccessful attempts to get it repealed were launched in 1969 and 2003, when the country's equality minister summed up: "Disuse is sometimes more efficient than state intervention."

It has since been pointed out trousers are compulsory for Parisian policewoman, meaning they are all technically breaking the law.