Traffic at the Koulata border checkpoint, the largest crossing on the border between Bulgaria and Greece, has returned to normal on May 2, Bulgarian news agency Focus reported.

The previous day, Bulgarians travelling to Greece for the May 1-6 holiday period had overwhelmed the checkpoint. The traffic jam reached seven km in length at its peak.

As reported on May 1, one of the alternative border crossings, Ilinden near Gotse Delchev, was also blocked for several hours due to traffic, which had been more than any time since the border crossing was opened in 2005.

The Koulata checkpoint processed an average of 1000 cars per hour in the morning and afternoon of May 1, Focus quoted Todor Georgiev, the head of the border police in Smolyan region, as saying.

Police has apprehended several people on the nationwide wanted list, as well as people banned from exiting the country, who have attempted to do so using the travel rush, he added. Another cause for delays were missing papers for families travelling with minors, which slowed down proceedings, Georgiev said.

Similar traffic jams on the other side of the border are expected on May 5-6, when the travellers return from their holidays.