Meet the anti-lockdown Polish 'highlanders'

Clad in traditional attire of the Tatra mountains, flanked by supporters carrying torches - these are the Polish highlanders.

And like protesters elsewhere, they're vowing to defy the COVID-19 restrictions imposed on them.

They say the current rules are battering their local economy in Poland's mountainous south.

Poland has extended its nationwide closure of hotels, restaurants and ski slopes until the end of the month.

And although there is some compensation available - those who run small businesses say government aid is not enough to recoup their losses.

Here's the initiator of what they call the 'Highlander Veto' movement, Sebastian Piton.

"We will end this madness. We will give a boost to whole of Poland to end this madness which wants to destroy Poland and Polishness, destroy the middle class, small and medium-sized enterprises and kill several hundred people a day because we need to be aware that it's not COVID killing Poles but the government's regulations and the paralysis of the health care system. // I hope our action will not only stop Poland but will also make all of central Europe get off this crazy train which is heading for destruction."

On Monday (January 11), Poland's government said that around $270 million would be allocated to aid businesses in the mountains - which are highly dependent on skiing.

But instances of Polish business owners losing patience and opening in defiance of the rules are increasing.

One restaurant owner who decided to keep his business running got the full backing of the "Highlander's Veto" representatives... and received a traditional mountaineer's axe as a symbol of what they believe are his courage and strength to fight the restrictions.