AKIPRESS.COM - Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Rome to protest at the Italian capital's run-down state, BBC reports.

Demonstrators gathered outside the city hall to denounce Mayor Virginia Raggi for failing to tackle issues including uncollected rubbish and potholed roads.

Ms Raggi took control of Rome in 2016 for the Five Star Movement (M5S), which formed a national coalition government earlier this year.

Her popularity has fallen after failing to address the indebted city's issues.

On Saturday, demonstrators gathered waving the plastic orange netting that authorities use to cordon off areas of damaged roads, dangerous pavements and fallen trees.

Other problems that the city faces include rats and wild boar roaming the streets and poor transport services - some 20 buses have reportedly caught fire this year alone.

The protest follows the collapse of an escalator on one of the main metro stations, which injured more than 20 people earlier this week.

Many were Russian fans of CSKA Moscow, visiting for their Champions League match against Roma.