Hundreds ordered to leave homes as fires rage

Hundreds of Greek residents were ordered to leave their homes after a large forest fire broke out northeast of Athens, fanned by high winds.

Fire Service officials said 11 firefighting aircraft and five helicopters were deployed to try and stop the flames reaching deeper into inhabited areas on the slopes of Mount Penteli, some 25 kilometres northeast of the capital. Smoke from the fire blanketed part of the city's skyline.