
It is known as the fashion capital of the world, but away from the celebrated boutiques of Armani, Versace and Prada the mood has turned ugly in Milan as it becomes the latest flashpoint in Europe's migrant crisis.

Residents and politicians are in a state of near-panic after roughly 400 turned up at the city's famous central railway station, swelling overall numbers in the city to a record 3,300.

With Switzerland, Austria and France clamping down on migrants, Milan is being seen as the new 'bottleneck' where people desperate to move into central Europe are 'trapped' for weeks.

MailOnline found young men still determined to get to Britain, but held in a series of makeshift shelters, while residents are increasingly losing patience with politicians' ability to control numbers.

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Bottleneck: Groups of young men hang around outside Milan's Central Station as the city becomes the new flashpoint for Europe's migrant crisis with hundreds converging on the railway square

Trapped: The numbers of migrants arriving in Milan in recent weeks has risen as Switzerland, France and Austria clamp down on immigration, meaning those who get off a boat in Italy cannot travel through into central Europe

Anger: As migrant numbers rise, residents in Milan have expressed worry that politicians do not have control of the issue, but police are visibly patrolling the square at the Milano Centrale station

Concern: Many young men from north Africa have arrived in central Milan in recent weeks, determined to get through Italy and into Britain or Germany, but have discovered they are effectively trapped

Bottleneck: With Switzerland, Austria and France clamping down on migrants, Milan is being seen as the new 'bottleneck' where people desperate to move into central Europe are 'trapped' for weeks

Resident Andrea Toniuto, 38, said he was worried that with so many on the streets there could be trouble.

'When they are desperate they will do desperate things. I do not know what the answer is other than to try and stop them from coming to Italy,' he said.

The sense of panic was heightened when the city's mayor Giuseppe Sala seemed to suggest he would open a tent city to cope house the new arrivals. From January 1 to July 1, 2016 around 70,930 migrants arrived in Italy, according to the Ministry of Interior

He admitted the city needed an 'intervention' as it struggled to handle the influx and was later assured by the country's defence minister that a disused barracks could be used for temporary accommodation. The Italian press talked grimly of an 'invasion' with dire warnings of thousands of more migrants to come, mostly from Africa and Egypt.

Makeshift: Migrants staying at the Oratorio San Luigi, in Bruzzano, are hanging their washing on the goalposts as the centre is forced to accommodate many more migrants than usual

Delayed: The church youth centre of Oratorio San Luigi, in Bruzzano, has been turned into a makeshift dormitory where more than 90 people, mostly from Eritrea, are based as Italy's migrant crisis escalates

Full: The Oratorio San Luigi youth centre, in Bruzzano is now packed with migrants and extra beds have been brought in to accommodate extra people

Packed: The Oratorio San Luigi, in Bruzzano, was a church youth club but has been turned into a migrant centre as routes out of Italy are effectively closed due to tightened border controls from neighbouring countries

The prediction has yet to come true, but with all routes out of Italy effectively closed due to tightened border controls from neighbouring countries, it seems likely that more migrants will end up in major cities such as Milan.

Resident Gianluigi Bonsaglio, 27, said: 'It does concern me that so many are here. When I drive around Milan and in the centre you see lots of [migrants] sitting around. It does not present a very good image of city.

'They are not doing anything wrong, but they cannot sit on the streets all day.'

Other residents, who declined to named and photographed, said they feared that groups of migrants projected the wrong image for the city.

'We know this problem of the migrants is not going to go away and so we have to face it and do something about it,' said one woman in her 40s.

Police patrol: Authorities patrol the square outside Milano Centrale amid increasing concern at the number of migrants caught in a 'bottleneck' in Italy, as neighbouring countries clamp down on immigration

Landmark: Milan's stunning central station has become the focal point for migrants arriving in Italy, who discover that they are effectively trapped as border controls in neighbouring countries are tightened

Volunteers: As Italy's migrant crisis intensifies, ordinary people have helped to care for those who arrive in Milan. People from the Church Beata Vergine Assunta at the Bruzzano area are working in a nearby church youth centre that has been turned into a migrant centre

'They cannot stay sat outside the station all the time. It looks bad and who knows what could happen.'

Some of the 3,500 migrants in the Milan have returned from lakeside town of Como, home to George Clooney and other wealthy residents.

More than 500 were previously camped at the town's train station having failed in their attempts to cross the border into Switzerland.

Others have made their way to Milan after landing on Lampedusa, a small island off the coast of Sicily having made the boat trip from Libya with the aid of people smugglers.

Most made their way to the city in the hope its excellent rail links would speed their journey to other parts of Europe.

Desparate: The streets in the outskirts of Milan have also become accustomed to accommodating migrants with volunteers from the Church Beata Vergine Assunta at the Bruzzano area, pictured, working to turn their youth centre into a migrant camp

Complaint: Police park up outside the Milano Centrale station amid concerns from residents that the historic building is becoming the focal point for migrants

But their progress has come to a shuddering halt as Switzerland, Austria and France slam the door shut on migrants.

More than 200 hundred people who recently attempted to swim to France from Italy were sent back.

It means many have little choice but to make Milan their home.

Camped in front of the 85-year-old railway station are dozens of African migrants, chatting and doing their best to keep in the shade from the blistering summer heat.

They only move when teams of cleaners in mechanized vehicles swoop on the area in front of the station to hose it town and clear up rubbish.

Two police officers stand guard as the groups of migrants reluctantly move from their position to allow the cleaning take place.

While many sleep rough outside the station others finds local parks and doorways.

Among them is 21-year-old Lamin Saho who left his home in Gambia in the hope of reaching England and a new life.

He worries that with the cooler autumn months approaching he will not survive on the streets.

'I want to go to England but they have made it so hard to get there,' he told Mail Online.

Crowded: Residents say that dozens of migrants camp out in front of the Milano Centrale station, chatting and doing their best to keep in the shade from the blistering summer heat

Fears: While many migrants sleep rough outside the Milano Centrale station, others finds local parks and doorways. Among them is 21-year-old Lamin Saho who left his home in Gambia in the hope of reaching England and a new life

'That is where I want to go, or to Germany. There is nothing for us here in Italy. They do not give us documents so that we can leave.

'This is not the place where we want to stay.'

Like all the migrants arriving in Italy he was fingerprinted and had his photograph taken but sees Milan as a stopping off point only.

He has no desire to stay or learn Italian.

Others in the city like 20-year-old Ethiopian Elias are new arrivals.

His family paid $2,500 to people smugglers to get him from Libya to Italy.

Elias claims he is fleeing war in his country but admits he wanted to leave to find a job or even study medicine abroad.

Resident Andrea Toniuto, 38, pictured left, said he was worried that with so many on the streets there could be trouble. 'When they are desperate they will do desperate things. I do not know what the answer is other than to try and stop them from coming to Italy,' he said. Resident Gianluigi Bonsaglio, 27, said: 'It does concern me that so many are here. When I drive around Milan and in the centre you see lots of [migrants] sitting around. It does not present a very good image of city. 'They are not doing anything wrong, but they cannot sit on the streets all day.'

'If I can I want to get to Holland as they give good benefits for people who want to study,' he told Mail Online.

'England was my first choice, but everyone says it is impossible to get into the country now. '

Speaking in near perfect English he added: 'Why do you make it so hard for people like me,' he asked.

Around him sat dozens of other migrants, mostly all young men aged from 18-30.

They were sat in the shade outside Milan's main reception centre for new arrivals called The Hub and based in arches under the railway tracks.

Usually it can sleep up to 150 people but it was forced to accommodate several hundred more when a large group arrived.

Run by a charity called the Arca Project it provides food, shelter, clothing and Internet access for the migrants.

Nowhere to go: Groups of migrants stay outside the Central Station as fears intensify that Milan is becoming the bottleneck of Europe's migrant crisis

'It is not an emergency situation but we do have a problem now here in Milan' said Alice Stefanizzi, the charity's fund raising manger.

'More accommodation is needed and we hope the city will provide it. The people who come here stay for a few days, but with nowhere to go many are staying longer.

'Charities like ours can only provide so much and it will be down to the city and the Government to step in.'

In an effort to keep migrants off the streets, and provide secure accommodation, many have been taken to the suburbs.

One such centre is in the town of Brazzano where a church youth centre has been turned into a makeshift dormitory.

More than 90 people, mostly from Eritrea, are based there and looked after by volunteers from the nearby church and the House of Charity, a local organization that usually helps the homeless.

Other similar centres have been set up around the city, including one in Quarto Oggiaro.

We have a solution that allows the refugees not to go around the streets of the city, but that will be placed in a safe place'

Milan's Mayor Giuseppe Sala has admitted the city has a problem telling the La Stampa newspaper that he has not ruled out calling a state of emergency.

He also said it was the duty of the Government to come to the aid of the city.

'I leave it to the government decision' he said of the state of emergency.

'The Milanese have the right to live in peace. they need the help of the government. '

He said opening up the former Montello army barracks would help solve the problem.

'We have a solution that allows the refugees not to go around the streets of the city, but that will be placed in a safe place. '

But while the Mayor finds himself at odds with other politicians in the region who are opposed to helping migrants.

Lombardy regional president Roberto Maroni has been outspoken in his opposition to sheltering migrants.

He has said previously said refugees are 'illegal immigrants who should be sent home.'

And Riccardo De Corato, regional advisor for the Fratelli d'Italia party, said with the latest influx of immigrants, 'Milan is already a tent city.'

More than 94,000 migrants have arrived at southern Italian ports this, according to figures from the International Organisation for Migrant.

A similar number made the trip from Libya last year but in 2016 access to other European countries from Italy has been shut down.