The voices of police officers at Tian'anmen Square turned so hoarse answering the queries of thousands of tourists each day during the National Day holiday that the police bureau had to urgently buy medicines to soothe their throats, reports Beijing Times.

On Sunday, when the National Day break was into its fifth day, almost all officers were suffering from a sore throat as the crowds of people, often tourists, tended to ask police for help - either for directions or simply where to find a toilet.

An average of more than 200,000 people passed through Jinshui bridge by the square every day.

The Tian'anmen police bureau had to break a rule that policemen on guard could not drink water, and provided medicines and water to every officer on the square.

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