Thousands of refugees yesterday streamed into Germany — many travelling through Austria from Hungary where they had been stranded against their will for days — while EU governments argue over how to respond.

Norma Costello travels to Keleti train station in Budapest, and speaks to some desperate Afghan children who crossed six countries only to encounter more hostility and police aggression.

Thousands of refugees sit on the dirty mats that have come to define Budapest’s grand Keleti station. Many have travelled the now risky Balkan route through Macedonia, Serbia, and finally Hungary, hoping to link up with family and friends in Germany and Austria.