Athens - Hundreds of firefighters, assisted by dozens of planes and helicopters battled to contain forest fires that raged out of control along the outskirts of the Greek capital on Wednesday.

More than 25 fire engines and a handful of planes and helicopters were trying to extinguish the blaze near the industrial town of Aspropyrgos, approximately 20 kilometers west of Athens, reports said.

Firefighting officials said the fire in Aspropygos may have been set off accidently by a gypsy camp which normally burns tyres and plastic coated cables which they sell for scrap.

Officials were on alert as high temperatures and strong winds were faming the flames towards the major road artery linking many parts of Athens to the country's national highway.

Police could be seen diverting traffic to other roads around the Greek capital.

More than six warehouses were damaged and dozens more factories and businesses were under threat.

Officials said more than 100 forest fires were also burning across the country on Wednesday, namely in central and northern Greece as well as on the island of Andros.

Greece had to battle hundreds of massive forest fires which broke out in several areas across Greece last summer, killing a total of 84 people, including several firefighters.

The most destructive and lethal of the infernos broke out at the end of August in the western and southern Peloponnese as well as the southern island of Evia. (dpa)