Protestors have clashed with police in Athens at a rally opposing a deal to change the name of Greece's northern neighbour, Macedonia.

Tens of thousands of people attended the protest on Sunday and police fired tear gas at some who tried to force their way into the Greek Parliament using weapons and firebombs.

The clashes came after a deal was agreed changing the name of the country to the Republic of North Macedonia.

Macedonia took on its name after the break-up of the former Yugoslavia, but many Greeks have always objected, saying it implies a claim in the Greece province of the same name.

After 28-years of talks, during which Greece vetoed Macedonia's bid to join Nato and the Eurpoean Union, many Greeks remain unhappy with the deal.

Reports suggests that for the most part, the rally, which took place days before the Greek Parliament votes on the change, was peaceful. However, clashes broke out at around 3pm on Sunday.

It is understood ten police officers were wounded.

A statement from the office of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras accused extremists of trying to force their way into Parliament and of attacking police officers with stones and clubs, wounding dozens of people.

The statement said: "In our democracy, the free speech of citizens is a non-negotiable right, even of those who want to abolish it. 

“But it is also the duty of all those who believe in and defend democracy not to allow them to do so. To isolate them and to condemn them unreservedly.”

People travelled from across the country to demonstrate close to the national parliament. They waved Greek flags and chanted "Macedonia is Greek".

A number of clerics, dressed in black, were among those taking part.

Protestor Amalia Savrami, 67, said: "We cannot stomach this deal, to give away our Macedonia, our history."

Opinion polls suggest hat 70 percent of Greeks oppose the deal, which Mr Tsipras claims offers a "clear distinction" between the Greek region and the neighbouring country.

Opponents claim the Prime Minister - who last week fought off a confidence vote - has made too many concessions.

The main conservative opposition party, New Democracy, which has far more support in opinion polls than Mr. Tsipras’s leftist Syriza party, has condemned the deal as “harmful for the country” called for elections so that Greeks can decide on the issue.

In a message on Twitter on Sunday, Giorgos Kyrtsos, a New Democracy lawmaker in the European Parliament, accused the government of “provocatively and persistently ignoring the will of the Greek people”.