Drones of different shapes buzzed along the length of the Champs-Elysees on Sunday, flying in a circuit that stopped just short of the Arc de Triomphe.

Organizers of the Paris Drone Festival were eager to show off a wide range of uses for drones, which have had their image tarnished by security fears and concerns over a lack of regulation.

With a playful and educational tone, the festival was aimed at teaching the public more about how drones work, as well as their potential. France is a world leader in drone sales, with some 300,000 such machines sold last year.

"They can be used in many areas: on the train, by the fire brigade, to protect historical buildings and in agriculture," said Jean-Louis Missika, a local politician and organizer of the event.

"Paris is one of the places where there are the most startup businesses in the field of drones," Missika said.

The Champs-Elysees was closed to traffic during the festival, with nets erected along the route for the drone race.

The contest drew a larger crowd than perhaps might have been expected.

Civilians are normally forbidden from flying drones over the city without having special permission, but an exception was made for the day. A spate of mysterious flyovers by drones near sensitive sites in the city last year caused jitters for the public in the wake of terrorist attacks.

rc/mkg (dpa, AP)