A dozen protesters have been arrested in Bulgaria after they campaigned against a controversial new forestry law.

Several hundred activists clashed with police and blocked traffic in the centre of the capital Sofia on Wednesday after the new bill was passed in parliament.

Environmental group World Wildlife Fund has warned that the new legislation will doom Bulgaria’s forests, farms and natural habitat.

The changes will relax rules on building ski runs and other ski facilities in protected areas.

Critics say the law will benefit a handful of private companies and claim the government will lose millions from the waiving of fees to change the status of key areas of land.

WWF called on Bulgaria’s president to veto the new law and says it will raise the issue at the EU level.