Eurosceptic nationalists have made big gains in European Parliament elections.

Critics of the EU have more than doubled their seats in what's being seen as a continent-wide backlash against austerity and unemployment.

In France the far-right anti-immigration, anti-euro National Front came top for the first time in its four-decade history.

In Britain the anti-European Union UK Independence Party was also celebrating major gains.

Early data put it ahead of the governing Conservatives and main opposition Labour parties.

UKIP leader Nigel Farrage says the European Union was paying for its mistakes.

The leftist anti-bailout opposition Syriza Party looks set to win in Greece.

It's a message to the government after four years of EU-imposed austerity measures which have angered many.

Such groups will have about a quarter of the European Parliament seats.

That's not likely to be enough to block EU legislation but it will give them a much louder voice.