The Austrian authorities say at least 20 migrants have been found dead in a lorry in the eastern province of Burgenland.

The number of dead could be as high as 50.

The find is reported to have been made on a main road close to the border with Hungary.

Tens of thousands of migrants from conflict-hit states in the Middle East and Africa have been trying to make their way to Europe.

Austrian police said there appeared to be 20 to 50 bodies in the lorry, judging by its size. They described the deaths as a horrible crime.

The vehicle had been there since Wednesday but was not found until early Thursday.

The victims had been dead for some time and the bodies had begun to decompose.

Austria's Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner told a news conference it was a "dark day" and that their thoughts were with the victims and their families.

The tragedy again underlined the urgent need for common European Union policies to protect migrants and to combat people traffickers, she said.