With rolling pumpkins across Batenberg square in Sofia, the movement of young scientists in the Bulgarian Academy of Science (BAS) and universities protested against the low salaries and weak finances for science in Bulgaria.

Turning Around Lack of Education was how the young scientists had called their protest, Dnevnik daily said.

They organised matches in rolling pumpkins across the square. Different disciplines were formed; sprint rolling, handicap relay-race and slalom rolling. Prices for the winners consisted of pumpkin medals, Dnevnik said.

The young scientists carried posters saying "Education Ministry warns; involvement in science leads to chronic poverty".

The pumpkin matches prompted the police to repeatedly stop traffic on Batenberg square.