Protesters clashed with police in the Netherlands and Belgium over the weekend, as governments attempt to curb infection rate rises across the continent

Austria has returned to a full national lockdown as new restrictions to combat covid infections spark protests across Europe.

Gathering places including restaurants and bars, as well as non-essential shops and hairdressers, have been closed in the country for at least 10 days.

It marks Austria’s fourth national lockdown since the pandemic began and the first since vaccines became widely available. But the country’s rollout has been slow, with 65 per cent of the population fully vaccinated.

Riots broke out for the third night in a row in several towns and cities in the Netherlands overnight.

Infection rates have risen sharply across the continent in recent weeks, prompting the world health organization (WHO) to warn that unless measures were tightened, half a million more deaths could be recorded by the spring.