Greek officials advise staying in with windows shut due to fires near Athens

Whole neighbourhoods are being evacuated from around capital as firefighters mount huge effort to put out blazes

Greek authorities have warned people to stay indoors with their windows closed" as 400 firefighters battled to contain blazes on the outskirts of Athens that were forcing the evacuation of entire communities.

Huge clouds of billowing smoke had by mid-afternoon on Sunday darkened the skies above the capital as 10 groups of forest commandos" backed by water-bombing aircraft, helicopters and fire engines tried to douse flames fanned by gale-force winds. Volunteers had also joined the fight near the village of Varnava about 35km (21 miles) north of the city.