Greek mayor fasts to save beach

Mr Kortzidis wants an end to illegal restrictions on beach access

The mayor of a beach resort near Athens is deteriorating fast after being on hunger strike for 21 days, doctors say.

Christos Kortzidis stopped eating to protest against the increasing privatisation of the seafront in his town, Hellenikon.

He says businesses such as nightclubs are buying up the beaches, as a result of which local people have to pay to visit them.

Mr Kortzidis says he has exhausted all other ways to pressure the government.

German and Italian politicians have been among those paying him visits to show their solidarity.

"Lack of access to the beach has been a chronic problem for many years," Mr Kortzidis told the BBC.

"About a month and a half ago we witnessed two of our deputy mayors being beaten up by the owners of an illegal nightclub built on a beach and that was the straw that broke the camel's back."

Mr Kortzidis hopes his campaign will find a solution to the issue.

"It's not just a problem for us, it concerns all the beaches in Attica."