A HOLIDAY in eastern Europe turned into a weekend on the barricades for one traveller.

Chris Harrop, from Culcheth, is travelling around eastern Europe and arrived in Hungarian capital of Budapest last weekend.

But the 27-year-old did not expect the reception he received.

His visit coincided with the 50th anniversary of the anti-Soviet uprising in 1956 and was marked by violence demonstrations against the current Government.

He said: "After a day of street festival in remembrance, violence erupted in Astoria Square. Protestors had managed to sabotage a tank and small artillery vehicle from the earlier remembrance celebrations and had used them to signify force against the police. The police used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons to control a minority of protestors using stones, bottles and street furniture. All along, as someone not involved in the protest or celebrations, I felt safe. The fighting was specific and targeted, the police seen as the enemy, part of the Government they hate so much. At one point, I was sat outside a bar with rioting at each end of the street and a synagogue across the road being used as a headquarters of the riot police."

Mr Harrop has now continued his travels elsewhere in the region.