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| Dover delays: Queues cut but delays 'could last for days' | Dover delays: Queues cut but delays 'could last for days' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Delays for motorists travelling to Dover have eased but disruption could still last for days, police warn. | Delays for motorists travelling to Dover have eased but disruption could still last for days, police warn. |
| Kent Police said delays were down to about one hour after drivers had queued for up to 14 hours because of extra French security checks at the port. | Kent Police said delays were down to about one hour after drivers had queued for up to 14 hours because of extra French security checks at the port. |
| But the Port of Dover tweeted there was an additional 100-minute wait from the port entrance to French border control. | But the Port of Dover tweeted there was an additional 100-minute wait from the port entrance to French border control. |
| Motorists have been told to expect more disruption and to consider alternative routes and travel arrangements. | Motorists have been told to expect more disruption and to consider alternative routes and travel arrangements. |
| Police said disruption was caused by the large volume of holiday traffic and increased checks at the border following recent terror attacks in France. | Police said disruption was caused by the large volume of holiday traffic and increased checks at the border following recent terror attacks in France. |
| The Port of Dover authority said the French border control booths in Dover were "seriously understaffed" on Friday night, when the disruption began. | The Port of Dover authority said the French border control booths in Dover were "seriously understaffed" on Friday night, when the disruption began. |
| Kent County Council said at one stage only one French officer was available to check passengers on hundreds of coaches, resulting in each coach taking 40 minutes to process. | Kent County Council said at one stage only one French officer was available to check passengers on hundreds of coaches, resulting in each coach taking 40 minutes to process. |
| The delays persisted into Sunday as more travellers continued to head for Dover while the port was still dealing with Saturday's backlog. | The delays persisted into Sunday as more travellers continued to head for Dover while the port was still dealing with Saturday's backlog. |
| UK officials were sent to help at French border posts overnight on Saturday, in response to what the Home Office said was "extraordinary disruption". While they were not able to conduct passport checks they were able to help French officials searching vehicles. | UK officials were sent to help at French border posts overnight on Saturday, in response to what the Home Office said was "extraordinary disruption". While they were not able to conduct passport checks they were able to help French officials searching vehicles. |
| The UK officials remain on standby to help. | The UK officials remain on standby to help. |
| Latest information from BBC Travel | Latest information from BBC Travel |
| Motorists queue for up to 14 hours in Dover traffic chaos | |
| As of 16:00 BST, the port said journey times from the A20 Roundhill to Aycliffe were down to 19 minutes, with about 41 minutes from the A2 at Whitfield to the port. But it said there was anther one hour 40 minute wait from the port entrance to French border control. | As of 16:00 BST, the port said journey times from the A20 Roundhill to Aycliffe were down to 19 minutes, with about 41 minutes from the A2 at Whitfield to the port. But it said there was anther one hour 40 minute wait from the port entrance to French border control. |
| Parts of the London-bound carriageway of the A20, closed for hours to enable Kent Police, coastguards and volunteers to distribute water to those stuck in the Dover-bound queues, and to allow stranded motorists access toilet facilities, are set to reopen. | Parts of the London-bound carriageway of the A20, closed for hours to enable Kent Police, coastguards and volunteers to distribute water to those stuck in the Dover-bound queues, and to allow stranded motorists access toilet facilities, are set to reopen. |
| But Angie Elliot Dickson, from Highways England, says people heading for Dover should still prepare themselves for the delays. | But Angie Elliot Dickson, from Highways England, says people heading for Dover should still prepare themselves for the delays. |
| She said motorists should "ensure that they bring plenty of food and water, toys for the kids to play with, take regular breaks, make sure they're topped up with fuel". | She said motorists should "ensure that they bring plenty of food and water, toys for the kids to play with, take regular breaks, make sure they're topped up with fuel". |
| Tales from the queue | |
| With vehicles backed up on roads for a second day, many were forced to spend the night in their cars. Families have been running short on food and water - but with a surplus of boredom and frustration. | |
| Haider told the BBC he had been on the road for nearly 24 hours with his wife and three children. | |
| "We left Birmingham at 9am yesterday morning. My little one has just thrown up, he's been feeling car sick for the last couple of hours and he's just thrown up." | |
| Ollie Burridge, who is travelling with his family to Barcelona from South Wales, described a more jolly atmosphere. | |
| "There were some people playing football on the other side of the carriageway that had been closed," he said. | |
| "We got some bats and balls and played a spot of tennis over the central reservation. We made the best of it." | |
| Meanwhile, Twitter user Hannah Brisley posted a video, saying that she had thrown food down to people stuck on the motorway, and had been rewarded with them singing a song. | |
| Read more tales from the traffic jams | |
| The Home Office said French authorities had stepped up border checks in the wake of the terrorist attack in Nice last Friday - and that it was up to them to decide what level of checks to implement. | The Home Office said French authorities had stepped up border checks in the wake of the terrorist attack in Nice last Friday - and that it was up to them to decide what level of checks to implement. |
| Conservative party chairman Patrick McLoughlin said it was "understandable" that the French would want to increase security after the recent attack in Nice. | Conservative party chairman Patrick McLoughlin said it was "understandable" that the French would want to increase security after the recent attack in Nice. |
| He told The Andrew Marr Show: "What is unacceptable is just the way in which people have been left in the lurch - [with] one person checking the coaches, as I understand it." | He told The Andrew Marr Show: "What is unacceptable is just the way in which people have been left in the lurch - [with] one person checking the coaches, as I understand it." |
| However he dismissed claims by some motorists that the French authorities were "punishing" British holidaymakers for the Brexit vote. | However he dismissed claims by some motorists that the French authorities were "punishing" British holidaymakers for the Brexit vote. |
| Mr McLoughlin said: "To the French and to us, tourism is a very important industry and nobody wants to see people starting their holidays getting frustrated in the way that they are and held up. | Mr McLoughlin said: "To the French and to us, tourism is a very important industry and nobody wants to see people starting their holidays getting frustrated in the way that they are and held up. |
| "I know there have been discussions between our government and the French government to make sure that we try and ease the situation as much as we possibly can." | "I know there have been discussions between our government and the French government to make sure that we try and ease the situation as much as we possibly can." |
| Some motorists caught up in the tailbacks turned away from Dover on Sunday morning to catch the Eurotunnel from Folkestone instead. | Some motorists caught up in the tailbacks turned away from Dover on Sunday morning to catch the Eurotunnel from Folkestone instead. |
| Eurotunnel is operating four departures an hour from Folkestone and said that although there is currently no waiting time at the terminal, there is an hour's delay at the check-in due to reinforced security checks. | Eurotunnel is operating four departures an hour from Folkestone and said that although there is currently no waiting time at the terminal, there is an hour's delay at the check-in due to reinforced security checks. |
| France has been under a state of emergency since last November, when terror attacks in Paris left 130 people dead, and has tightened its border checks accordingly. | France has been under a state of emergency since last November, when terror attacks in Paris left 130 people dead, and has tightened its border checks accordingly. |
| The port said it had raised concerns over French staffing levels with the UK government earlier this week, which were then brought up with its French counterparts. | The port said it had raised concerns over French staffing levels with the UK government earlier this week, which were then brought up with its French counterparts. |
| The Conservative MP for Dover and Deal, Charlie Elphicke, has called on the government to apologise to people who have been queuing for hours in the summer heat. | The Conservative MP for Dover and Deal, Charlie Elphicke, has called on the government to apologise to people who have been queuing for hours in the summer heat. |
| He told the BBC: "This is completely unacceptable. The port days ago warned the Home Office and the Department for Transport that this was a developing situation. | He told the BBC: "This is completely unacceptable. The port days ago warned the Home Office and the Department for Transport that this was a developing situation. |
| "It seems that very little was done. I think these people are owed an apology because the government should have been prepared, and wasn't." | "It seems that very little was done. I think these people are owed an apology because the government should have been prepared, and wasn't." |
| Dave Hunt, who has lived in Dover for 33 years, said delays happened every time the schools broke up. | Dave Hunt, who has lived in Dover for 33 years, said delays happened every time the schools broke up. |
| He told the BBC: "The Harbour Board are aware of this but seem to do nothing. Residents of Dover are unable to go about their everyday business as the town is gridlocked." | He told the BBC: "The Harbour Board are aware of this but seem to do nothing. Residents of Dover are unable to go about their everyday business as the town is gridlocked." |
| Pete Williams, from the RAC, said the authorities need to put better contingency plans in place. | Pete Williams, from the RAC, said the authorities need to put better contingency plans in place. |
| He said: "I don't think anybody could have anticipated that they could have been stuck for 10 hours or longer, so what we really need to see is a back up plan to ensure that there can be additional refreshments and food and toilet facilities for people stuck in these dreadful queues." | He said: "I don't think anybody could have anticipated that they could have been stuck for 10 hours or longer, so what we really need to see is a back up plan to ensure that there can be additional refreshments and food and toilet facilities for people stuck in these dreadful queues." |
| Are you travelling to France via Dover? Are you a local resident? 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? Are you a local resident? 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 |