Rome's Befana market shut down due to safety risk.

The Befana market in Piazza Navona, long a feature of the Christmas season in Rome, has been closed down by the city's police.

The closure related to violations of safety legislation, with "serious risks for workers and visitors", according to Italian news agency ANSA.

Officers discovered that the central recreational area was without a fire prevention certificate and fire extinguishers, and that ten of the stands were selling toys that did not comply with European legislation.

Police seized market stands as well as the carousel, confiscating 600 toys and issuing fines totalling €30,000.

Photo La Repubblica