Hudson held a two-stroke lead entering the third round, having completed the final three holes of her second round at 9am.

She was being chased by Frenchwoman Gwladys Nocera, who carded a 71 to take outright second.

England’s Trish Johnson carded a 72 and was left to rue a few missed putts after finishing the day a shot further back in third.

Hudson carded three birdies and three bogeys in total. After six holes, she was tied for the lead with Johnson, who made a charge on the front nine.

However Hudson holed a six-foot birdie putt at the par-three 10th hole to establish a one-stroke lead and then followed with an impressive 25-foot birdie putt at the par-four 11th hole to pull two strokes clear.

She dropped shots at the 12th and 13th holes to move back to eight-under with a one-stroke advantage but neither Johnson nor Nocera could catch her coming down the stretch.

“I’m very happy. I only made one real mistake at the 13th hole where I three-putted from 10 feet which wasn’t good. I went for my first putt but apart from that with this wind I think anything under par is good. They’re all chasing me,” said Hudson, who is aiming for her second Ladies European Tour victory in five years as a professional after winning the OTP Bank Ladies Central European Open in Hungary a year ago.

“I think I can stave off Gwladys. She will be trying so hard because she’s in France but I have a good chance tomorrow,” she added.

As well as the birdie putts on holes 10 and 11, Hudson holed from 25 feet at the seventh for birdie.

In addition to Nocera and Johnson, Italy’s Stefania Croce was in the chasing pack after a five-under-par 67 took her to fourth place on five-under-par.

Four players were four shots off the lead in joint fifth position on four-under-par. Swedes Linda Wessberg and Lotta Wahlin and Spaniards Marta Prieto and Marina Arruti. Wales’ Becky Brewerton was alone in ninth position on three-under-par.