COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) - Thousands of Danish teachers have formed a 35km line between two cities to protest a weeklong lockout by local municipalities.

The Danish Teachers Union says that some 6,000 teachers on Tuesday lined up along the main road between Copenhagen and Roskilde to demonstrate against a decision by employers to shut schools after negotiations over working hours broke down on April 1.

The lockout shut out 52,000 teachers affecting some 875,000 pupils at most of the country's primary and secondary schools.

No details of the talks were given but teachers' representatives have said the union rejected a new labor pact as part of sweeping school reforms.

There was no information about ongoing talks but it was widely believed the government would step in to force a solution.