Greek protests turn violent

Thousands of angry protesters have taken to the streets of Athens over proposed austerity measures.

Clashes broke out as anarchists threw petrol bombs at riot police, who used tear gas to control the crowds at the May Day rallies.

Foreign Office officials are monitoring the situation in Greece, a popular destination for British holidaymakers.

Visitors have been warned they face further disruption on Wednesday, when flights in and out of Greek airports will be cancelled during a 24-hour strike.

The Greek government is set to announce more sweeping spending cuts through 2012 to win support for an international loan package worth 45 billion euros this year alone.

Nikos Diamantopoulos, who was taking part in a rally organised by pro-Communist unions, said: "These measures are death. How people are going to live tomorrow, how they're going to survive, I do not understand."

In the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki, where more than 5,000 people demonstrated, protesters briefly clashed with police and smashed a few shopfronts and cash machines.