Italian police used tear gas to disperse protesting migrants on the French border on Monday who want to enter the European country.

At least 400 migrants in the Italian town of Ventimiglia set out on a protest march on a road leading to the French border in the early hours of Monday.

Italian police fired tear gas against mainly African immigrants while some of the refugees tried to cross the nearby Roja River, carrying their shoes in their hands.

Most of the migrants were seen sitting on the road surrounded by police later in the morning after their attempts to cross the border have failed.

Small groups of migrants also camped out near the Roja River.