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| Channel Tunnel: Migrant flow at Calais 'too much to handle' | Channel Tunnel: Migrant flow at Calais 'too much to handle' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The flow of migrants trying to get into Britain from Calais appears "too much" for the UK government to handle, a spokesman for Eurotunnel has said. | The flow of migrants trying to get into Britain from Calais appears "too much" for the UK government to handle, a spokesman for Eurotunnel has said. |
| About 2,000 migrants tried to enter the Channel Tunnel terminal in Calais on Monday night in a bid to reach the UK. | About 2,000 migrants tried to enter the Channel Tunnel terminal in Calais on Monday night in a bid to reach the UK. |
| David Cameron said the situation was "very concerning", as the UK confirmed an extra £7m to pay for new fencing at the Channel Tunnel terminal in France. | |
| But the Freight Transport Association called for the Army to be brought in. | But the Freight Transport Association called for the Army to be brought in. |
| Speaking in Singapore, the prime minister said he had sympathy with British holidaymakers caught up in the crisis, saying Home Secretary Theresa May will chair a meeting of the government's emergency committee Cobra later. | |
| 'Almost nightly occurrence' | 'Almost nightly occurrence' |
| A Home Office spokesman said the additional £7m funding - outlined by the Home Secretary earlier this month - will pay for 1.2 miles of new fencing at the Eurotunnel site at Coquelles. | |
| Work to put up fencing began earlier this month and is due to be completed this week, the Home Office added. | Work to put up fencing began earlier this month and is due to be completed this week, the Home Office added. |
| It comes as a number of people were injured on Monday after some 2,000 migrants tried to enter the Calais railhead in a bid to get to the UK, a spokesman for Eurotunnel said. | It comes as a number of people were injured on Monday after some 2,000 migrants tried to enter the Calais railhead in a bid to get to the UK, a spokesman for Eurotunnel said. |
| The incursion was the biggest in the past month and a half, the spokesman added. | The incursion was the biggest in the past month and a half, the spokesman added. |
| The incident caused serious delays to Eurotunnel train services - with passengers held up for about an hour on the British side and 30 minutes on the French side on Tuesday, French news agency AFP reported. | The incident caused serious delays to Eurotunnel train services - with passengers held up for about an hour on the British side and 30 minutes on the French side on Tuesday, French news agency AFP reported. |
| Kent Police reintroduced Operation Stack following the incident, leading to long delays for lorries on sections of the M20 near the Channel Tunnel. | Kent Police reintroduced Operation Stack following the incident, leading to long delays for lorries on sections of the M20 near the Channel Tunnel. |
| A spokesman for Eurotunnel - which manages and operate Channel Tunnel services - said migrant incursions were now "an almost nightly occurrence". It is an issue for the government to "sort out", the spokesman said. | A spokesman for Eurotunnel - which manages and operate Channel Tunnel services - said migrant incursions were now "an almost nightly occurrence". It is an issue for the government to "sort out", the spokesman said. |
| "We need them to stop the migrant flow from Calais but it appears to be too much for them to handle," he added. | "We need them to stop the migrant flow from Calais but it appears to be too much for them to handle," he added. |
| However, UKIP leader Nigel Farage said the Army should be drafted in to help search vehicles coming into Britain for illegal immigrants. | However, UKIP leader Nigel Farage said the Army should be drafted in to help search vehicles coming into Britain for illegal immigrants. |
| Don Armour, head of international affairs at the Freight Transport Association, backed his calls, saying: "They're trained and they would know what to do. | Don Armour, head of international affairs at the Freight Transport Association, backed his calls, saying: "They're trained and they would know what to do. |
| "It may not be the way forward that would be approved. But perhaps it could be one of a number of solutions that the government might like to consider because we could be talking about people's lives," he told BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight programme. | "It may not be the way forward that would be approved. But perhaps it could be one of a number of solutions that the government might like to consider because we could be talking about people's lives," he told BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight programme. |
| Eight migrants have died this summer trying to reach Britain through the Channel Tunnel. | Eight migrants have died this summer trying to reach Britain through the Channel Tunnel. |
| The home secretary held talks on the migrant issue with French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve on Tuesday, saying the two governments were working "in close collaboration and cooperation on this issue". | The home secretary held talks on the migrant issue with French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve on Tuesday, saying the two governments were working "in close collaboration and cooperation on this issue". |
| "We are both clear that we need to ensure we are dealing with the terrible criminal gangs, the people smugglers, who are making a profit out of the human misery of many people," Mrs May added. | "We are both clear that we need to ensure we are dealing with the terrible criminal gangs, the people smugglers, who are making a profit out of the human misery of many people," Mrs May added. |
| 'We work together' | 'We work together' |
| Confirming the £7m investment, she said French authorities have also committed extra resources to security at Calais. | Confirming the £7m investment, she said French authorities have also committed extra resources to security at Calais. |
| Asked why British taxpayers should be paying for a problem taking place on French soil, she said: "We have juxtaposed controls at the border. We work together on dealing with this particular problem." | Asked why British taxpayers should be paying for a problem taking place on French soil, she said: "We have juxtaposed controls at the border. We work together on dealing with this particular problem." |
| Earlier this month, Mrs May announced that a new secure zone will be created at Calais for UK-bound lorries in response to an unprecedented surge in migrants attempting to cross the Channel. | Earlier this month, Mrs May announced that a new secure zone will be created at Calais for UK-bound lorries in response to an unprecedented surge in migrants attempting to cross the Channel. |
| AFP says an official count at the beginning of July found that about 3,000 migrants - mainly from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan and Afghanistan - were camping in Calais and trying to get across the Channel. | AFP says an official count at the beginning of July found that about 3,000 migrants - mainly from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan and Afghanistan - were camping in Calais and trying to get across the Channel. |
| Have you been affected by the issues in this story? Are you travelling by Eurotunnel? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you been affected by the issues in this story? Are you travelling by Eurotunnel? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |