Hungary is deploying the army to secure its border against migrants and refugees – and passed new laws that authorise them to use force, including rubber bullets and tear gas.

The country's prime minister says refugees are "laying siege" to his borders - many are making the crossing from Croatia. The measure, from Prime Minister Viktor Orban's centre-right party Fidesz, was passed with 151 votes to 12 against.

Hungary has come under fire for its treatment of migrants, though Budapest insists that it is only respecting EU rules.

Mr Orban said millions of migrants are "laying siege" to his country and Europe, putting the continent in danger.

"The migrants are not just banging on our door, they're breaking it down," he said. 

The decision comes as European ministers are preparing to discuss a scheme to relocate more than 100,000 migrants and refugees around the continent. EU leaders will meet later this week at an emergency summit.

Tensions between Hungary and Croatia have been frayed in recent days, with Hungary erecting a steel gate border crossing with Croatia.

“5,000 people have entered Croatia this week, with the Croat government responding by sending some to Hungary – a move which has caused considerable anger".

In other developments, hundreds of people are queuing at Vienna's train station as migrants continue their journeys north and Austria warns it is struggling to cope after 24,000 people arrived there over the weekend.

About half of those people walked into the country from Hungary on Sunday, and many say they are headed for Germany and Sweden.