Fire-planes battle Greece blazes

The battle to contain six major fires burning across Greece has been helped by a drop in gale force winds that had been fanning the flames.

In the north of Athens wildfires have already destroyed houses and burned swathes of forest, forcing thousands to flee their homes.

At first light on Monday, 17 water-dropping planes and helicopters resumed operations, swooping over flames near populated areas.

More than 2,000 firefighters, soldiers and volunteers have been fighting the blaze on the ground.