Hundreds of hungry, jobless Russians block motorway

St Petersburg: Hundreds of workers on Tuesday blocked a motorway in northern Russia when anger at job cuts and unpaid wages boiled over.

Trade unions say about half the inhabitants of Pikalyovo are living in poverty after the town's three main employers stopped production. Residents say they cannot feed their families.

"We want the factories to work and for people to get their wages which we have not received since March," said Oleg, a worker at a factory that was shut down.

About 600 people from Pikalyovo in northern Russia, blocked the motorway between St Petersburg and Vologda.

Residents are demanding Russia's leaders to intervene after local factories cut wages and sacked workers.

"The police tried to stop us but we said we can no longer wait. We have blocked the road," said the worker.