Hapless tourists trying to enjoy the countryside around the German resort of Heiligendamm on the Baltic Sea have been caught up in the security net of the G8 summit.

Police sealed off tracts of the region to protect world leaders staying at a luxury hotel. About 10,000 protesters clashed with police on Wednesday, injuring 8 officers and shut off a rail line and roads into the town.

One demonstrator, dressed as Knut the celebrity polar bear cub, was seen prowling along the line.

Tourists who unwittingly booked holidays in the region for this week found they could not get anywhere even as hotels and businesses are celebrating an influx of officials and reporters.

“We wanted to go to the beach, but it’s been fenced off, ” lamented Dieter Heymann, 65, on a bike ride with his wife in the nearby town of Kuehlungsborn under sunny skies. “It’s ok, it’s ok, these are very important people but it’s a long way round.”

 ”We’d like to go to Heiligendamm along the coast but we’ll have to come back next week,” said Reinhardt Ludwig, 62, also out on his bicycle as a helicopter clattered ovehead.

The water’s a bit chilly, if you can get on the beach.

Journalists travelling back and forth to the summit venue from the media centre had to travel instead by boat, until the organisers found they did not have enough vessels to get them there.

So why do world leaders always go to nice places?

One European Union summit in France was held in Cannes, on the Riviera. Some people say they should they do more to sort out the problems of ordinary people by visiting industrial cities with high unemployment.

 Tell us what you think!