Hungary has declared a ‘state of emergency’ along its border with Serbia in an attempt to prevent refugees crossing into the country.

At midnight (22:00 GMT Monday), Hungary implemented tough new laws, giving police powers to detain anyone attempting to break through its newly erected 175km (110 mile) barbed-wire fence along its southern border. The new laws also allow for the deployment of troops to maintain the border after parliamentary approval.

Authorities have closed a railway crossing point between Serbia and Hungary, which has been used by tens of thousands of people attempting to reach Europe in recent weeks, and mounted police now patrol the border.

More than 9,000 people crossed the border on Monday, with official figures showing that more than 200,000 have arrived in the country this year.

Asylum seekers reaching Hungary will now be taken by police buses to registration centres for processing, and those which are refused asylum will be immediately deported to Serbia.

Hungary’s militaristic response to the crisis has caused turmoil at the border, with some refugees attempting to storm the fence and others beginning a peaceful sit-down protest and chanting “shame on you”.