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| Dover ferry port passengers hit by traffic chaos | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Holidaymakers have been hit by delays of up to 12 hours though Kent to get to the Port of Dover, with many being stuck in traffic overnight. | |
| Port authorities said delays built up due to French border checks at Dover being understaffed overnight during an "exceptional security situation" | |
| "Vast volumes of holiday traffic" were said to have compounded the problems. | |
| The London-bound carriageway of the A20 has been closed to allow police to deliver water to those stuck in queues. | |
| Security checks at the port have now been relaxed, with waiting time at the holding area is 40 minutes, the port said. | |
| 'Tense atmosphere' | |
| BBC Travel says there are delays of up to 12 hours on the M20. Kent County Council said it would deliver 11,000 bottles of water to drivers stuck in traffic. | |
| Kent Police closed the London-bound carriageway of the A20 so the water could be delivered, and advised travellers to pack food and water. | |
| P&O Ferries said it would hold sailings to ensure people could travel. | P&O Ferries said it would hold sailings to ensure people could travel. |
| It refused to comment on reports some ferries had been leaving empty or with very few customers on board. | It refused to comment on reports some ferries had been leaving empty or with very few customers on board. |
| No problems have been reported at other major ferry ports. | No problems have been reported at other major ferry ports. |
| There are no delays with Channel Tunnel services but people have been told it will take 90 minutes to check in due to extra security procedures. | |
| Dover MP Charlie Elphicke said people caught in the chaos were owed an apology, blaming poor management and a lack of forward planning. | Dover MP Charlie Elphicke said people caught in the chaos were owed an apology, blaming poor management and a lack of forward planning. |
| "For Dover to once again be plunged into traffic chaos is completely unacceptable," he said. | "For Dover to once again be plunged into traffic chaos is completely unacceptable," he said. |
| "The Department for Transport and Home Office knew there would be heightened security checks in place in France. They should have been prepared. They weren't." | "The Department for Transport and Home Office knew there would be heightened security checks in place in France. They should have been prepared. They weren't." |
| 'Shambolic' | 'Shambolic' |
| France has been under a state of emergency since last November, when terror attacks in Paris left 130 people dead. | |
| The port said it raised concerns over French staffing levels with the UK government earlier this week, which was brought up with its French counterparts. | |
| Those stuck in the queues said people had been given little information. | Those stuck in the queues said people had been given little information. |
| Renata Roslak said she and her husband left Birmingham at 19:00 BST on Friday and still had not reached the port. | Renata Roslak said she and her husband left Birmingham at 19:00 BST on Friday and still had not reached the port. |
| She said: "It's absolutely horrendous. We have maybe moved half a mile in the last eight hours. | She said: "It's absolutely horrendous. We have maybe moved half a mile in the last eight hours. |
| "There isn't even somewhere to turn around and head home. | "There isn't even somewhere to turn around and head home. |
| "I even phoned the police to find out what was happening - we were told that there weren't enough staff to cope with the extra security checks, so ferries are leaving but they aren't full." | "I even phoned the police to find out what was happening - we were told that there weren't enough staff to cope with the extra security checks, so ferries are leaving but they aren't full." |
| Traveller Bill Murray, who has been stuck for 12 hours, described the situation as "shambolic". | Traveller Bill Murray, who has been stuck for 12 hours, described the situation as "shambolic". |
| He tweeted: "Bosses of this shambles must resign. No help. One policeman on a bike an hour ago, failed to stop... Truly a third world response. Woeful." | He tweeted: "Bosses of this shambles must resign. No help. One policeman on a bike an hour ago, failed to stop... Truly a third world response. Woeful." |
| Sonia Tutt, 38, on her way to Germany with more than a dozen others in a convoy, said: "Everyone is out of their vehicles, kids are playing football." | Sonia Tutt, 38, on her way to Germany with more than a dozen others in a convoy, said: "Everyone is out of their vehicles, kids are playing football." |
| She added: "When we went to join the motorway there was no indication you were likely to be sitting here all night." | She added: "When we went to join the motorway there was no indication you were likely to be sitting here all night." |
| 'Struggling in heat' | 'Struggling in heat' |
| Kris Mazur spent the night on the A20 and said he had moved about one mile in 10 hours. | Kris Mazur spent the night on the A20 and said he had moved about one mile in 10 hours. |
| He said people were standing around at the edge of the road having picnics or sleeping in their cars. | He said people were standing around at the edge of the road having picnics or sleeping in their cars. |
| He added: "There has been no access to food or toilets. The motorway is still completely blocked." | He added: "There has been no access to food or toilets. The motorway is still completely blocked." |
| Jack Donnelly from London said he had been stuck for more than seven hours. | Jack Donnelly from London said he had been stuck for more than seven hours. |
| He said they had not been given much information and families with children were especially struggling with the heat. | He said they had not been given much information and families with children were especially struggling with the heat. |
| "People are helping each other out but the atmosphere is starting to get tense," he added. | "People are helping each other out but the atmosphere is starting to get tense," he added. |
| 'Camping spirit' | 'Camping spirit' |
| Dale Savage was caught in the delays for 12 hours en route to his brother's wedding. He said: "There are a lot of kids here, a lot of young children - a lot of people want to go on their holidays. | Dale Savage was caught in the delays for 12 hours en route to his brother's wedding. He said: "There are a lot of kids here, a lot of young children - a lot of people want to go on their holidays. |
| "There are no real frustrations, the real problem was no one knew what was going on." | "There are no real frustrations, the real problem was no one knew what was going on." |
| He described a "camping spirit... very much like Glastonbury" but without a band to see at the end of it. | He described a "camping spirit... very much like Glastonbury" but without a band to see at the end of it. |
| However, Twitter user Lemonjelly said the mood was changing. | However, Twitter user Lemonjelly said the mood was changing. |
| "The novelty is wearing off. A few hours ago you would see picnics and kids on rollerblades skating up the A20. Now a lot of overheated, glum faces." | "The novelty is wearing off. A few hours ago you would see picnics and kids on rollerblades skating up the A20. Now a lot of overheated, glum faces." |
| Sarah Rossin added: "We've got three kids and they are being ace but it's 31 degrees on the motorway." | Sarah Rossin added: "We've got three kids and they are being ace but it's 31 degrees on the motorway." |
| Suzanne Holland said she had finally checked in for the 08:30 crossing - 12 hours after arriving in Dover. | Suzanne Holland said she had finally checked in for the 08:30 crossing - 12 hours after arriving in Dover. |
| "Anyone would be uncomfortable for that time especially with no information. Had we known we would have tried to sleep," she said. | "Anyone would be uncomfortable for that time especially with no information. Had we known we would have tried to sleep," she said. |
| One passenger, Julia Woodcock, spoke of her relief at finally boarding a ferry after six hours. | One passenger, Julia Woodcock, spoke of her relief at finally boarding a ferry after six hours. |
| She added: "It was all good-humoured. We are onboard now and finally read to start our hols!" | She added: "It was all good-humoured. We are onboard now and finally read to start our hols!" |
| P&O Ferries said in a tweet: "Rest assured we'll get you on your way as soon as you pass the checks." | P&O Ferries said in a tweet: "Rest assured we'll get you on your way as soon as you pass the checks." |
| Ferry operator DFDS Seaways said additional services had been added to help late-running customers. | Ferry operator DFDS Seaways said additional services had been added to help late-running customers. |
| It said it would put delayed customers on the first available sailing free of charge at check-in. | It said it would put delayed customers on the first available sailing free of charge at check-in. |
| Are you travelling to France via Dover? How have your plans been affected? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences but do not endanger yourself. | Are you travelling to France via Dover? How have your plans been affected? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences but do not endanger yourself. |
| 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: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |