Shopkeepers, restaurants owners and bar workers blocked traffic in the Greek city of Thessaloniki in the early hours of Sunday (September 27th) morning in protest at COVID-19 laws forcing them to close the businesses at midnight.

Scores of protesters gathered in the city centre after closing early to call for the measures to be scrapped.

"We are not leaving, open the shops," they chanted as they blocked some of the cities' busiest thoroughfares.

Shut bars and restaurants at 12.00 pm bring chaos in Greek city of Thessaloniki, as a midnight protest was held by hundreds of people gathered to protest against the early closing hours of the stores. Workers and shopkeepers on the catering business gathered at the city center after the closure of the shops to protest the new working hours due to coronavirus, demanding its abolition. "We are not leaving, open the shops" was the slogan shouted by workers and businessmen. People stuck in traffic waiting in their vehicles as protesters closed main streets, soon tensions rise as drivers who wanted to cross the road come into conflict with the demonstrators. Police forces on the spot did not manage to handle the situation, at the same time, some of the protesters were playing music from their vehicles, drinking and dancing in the streets.