A convoy of cars driven by German and Austrian activists has crossed into Hungary to pick up migrants and help them reach western Europe.

Thousands - many of whom initially fled conflict in Syria - have made their way through Austria since Hungary removed restrictions on transit on Friday.

Buses and special trains have been taking them from the Hungarian border to Vienna and on to Germany.

The Pope said every Catholic parish in Europe should host a migrant family.

Speaking during the Angelus prayer, Pope Francis appealed for "every parish, every religious community, every monastery, every sanctuary in Europe" to take in a family.

On Sunday a convoy of about 140 cars left Vienna for the Hungarian capital, Budapest, as part of a private initiative dubbed "refugeeconvoy"

One of the Austrian activists taking part, Angelika Neuwirth, told the BBC that their aim was to take them back to shelters in Austrian capital.

"I think this is my duty. I'm a mum, I'm a woman from Austria and I can't close my eyes anymore," she said. "We are all human. No-one is illegal."

However, Hungarian police spokeswoman Viktoria Csiszer-Kovacs said anyone taking migrants across the border was breaking the law.

Last week four Austrian activists who tried to do so were arrested for people smuggling but later released.

However, in the latest move a number of activists were able to collect migrants in Hungary without being stopped by police.

BBC