Germany has begun random checks at its borders with five Western European nations, expanding a system of controls already in place at its four other borders.

Germany has announced plans to tighten control at all of its land borders as part of a crackdown on migration, placing restrictions on a wide area of free movement known as the Schengen Zone.

Temporary checks on Germany's western and northern borders to combat irregular migration will not hit Europe's largest economy beyond creating delays and complexities for companies already struggling with a downturn,