The Franco-Swiss border runs through the CERN campus and building 31 is literally just a few feet into France.

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The LHC, which is based underground on the Franco-Swiss border near Geneva, is the only other competitor in the race to find the Higgs.

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The company's French plant employs 150 people in the Aspe Valley, near the Franco-Spanish border, home to some 3, 000 inhabitants and birthplace of Mr Lassalle.

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