An orange haze has descended over Athens as clouds of Saharan dust blow in.

Greece was struck by similar clouds in late March and early April, which also covered areas of Switzerland and southern France.

Officials however believe this latest episode is one of the worst to hit Greece since 2018.

On Tuesday the sky was orange and many historical landmarks in Athens were barely visible.

BBC News says air quality has deteriorated in many areas.

Those with respiratory conditions have been urged to limit the time they spend outdoors, wear protective masks and avoid taking physical exercise until the dust clouds clear.

Some improvement is expected from today.

The Sahara reportedly releases 60 to 200 million tonnes of mineral dust per year.

Most of the dust quickly descends to Earth, but some of the particles can travel huge distances.