Tens of thousands Romanians were said to have rushed to neighbouring Bulgaria and Ukraine for less expensive Christmas shopping.

Those who live in the central and southern parts of Romania, would shop in Bulgaria, mainly in the city of Rousse, where prices were lower than in Romania, Russian official news agency ITAR-TASS said.

Cross-border shopping was easier for Romanians as they need to pay only a minimal fee to cross the Danube river bridge to enter Bulgaria. The only documents they needed was an identity card, ITAR-TASS said as quoted by Bulgarian news agency BTA.

The Romanians would shop for food, shoes, garment, consumer electronics, even construction materials.

Romanian custom authorities were expecting even heavier traffic in the coming days.