Saudi motorists travelling to Bahrain via the King Fahd Causeway have reportedly been turned back for their own safety.

The side of the causeway leading to Manama has been operating normally, but was deserted during the weekend in what is usually its busiest time.

However, some Saudi students wishing to return Bahrain after enjoying a weekend with families in the Eastern province were told to return home by causeway officials who said it was not safe.

One student, who wished to remain anonymous, said she tried to come to Bahrain on Friday night and yesterday morning to attend classes, but was asked to turn back.

She revealed a customs official advised her father, who was driving, to go back for their safety as the security situation in Bahrain was unclear.

Another student, who only wished to be identified as Mohammed, revealed the customs official said he had to go back to Saudi to 'be safe'.

'The official was talking to me not as an order but as advice,' said the 23-year-old.

'He made me feel like it's up to me if I want to go to Bahrain, but advised the situation was not safe so I should not risk it.

'In the end I followed his advice and turned back.'

Meanwhile, a Saudi who was on his way to pick up his brother from Bahrain's airport was also advised not to enter the country.

'My uncle was on his way to pick up my father from Bahrain International Airport and had travelled through the causeway to come to Bahrain on Friday night,' said the woman, who declined to be named.

'A causeway official had advised my uncle not to enter Bahrain and said its better my father takes a taxi to the causeway which is what happened.'

Our sister newspaper Gulf Daily News (GDN) had reported on Thursday that residents in neighbouring countries have been avoiding travelling to Bahrain in light of the protests which have hit the country.

Some students of Bahrain-based universities earlier failed to show up for lectures for fear of being caught up in possible clashes.-TradeArabia News Service