Hungarian riot police have fired tear gas and water cannon to force refugees and migrants back from the Serbia-Hungary border.

Hundreds of people have massed at a closed crossing point near the Serbian town of Horgos, and have been involved in a tense stand-off with police on the other side of the border.

Police fired teargas and water cannon as dozens of young men threw stones in the searing heat and chanted “open the door”.

Many of the refugees and migrants want to reach Germany via Hungary.

Tens of thousands of refugees and migrants have crossed the border in this area to enter the Europe Union’s Schengen zone, which normally allows people to travel between member countries without restrictions.

Hungary closed its entire border with Serbia on Tuesday after enacting laws that make it illegal to enter the country or damage a new razor-wire border fence. The country’s courts have started fast-track trials of arrested migrants.

Serbia’s foreign ministry – which has protested over the firing of tear gas and water cannon into its territory – says Hungary has now closed the main border crossing between the two countries to all traffic for 30 days.