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| Calais blockade: Protest targets migrant Jungle camp | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Lorry drivers and farmers are starting to blockade the main route into Calais in a protest against its migrant camp. | |
| Cross-Channel travellers are facing disruption and local traders and trade unions also taking part in the demonstration calling for the closure of the "Jungle". | |
| Protesters have formed a human chain across the main road to the ferry port. | |
| Two convoys of trucks left Dunkirk and Boulogne on the A16 motorway towards Calais on a "go slow". | |
| Farmers in tractors are waiting on the side of the road to join the protest. | |
| Meanwhile, hundreds of protesters carrying banners are gathering near the entrance to the Channel Tunnel and ferry terminals. | |
| Channel Tunnel operator EuroTunnel has advised motorists in France heading to Calais to find an alternative route to its terminal. | |
| The presence of the camp, say the organisers of the protest, is undermining the town. | The presence of the camp, say the organisers of the protest, is undermining the town. |
| The lorry drivers say they have seen increasing threats from organised gangs and migrants, who have been attempting to board vehicles to reach the UK. | The lorry drivers say they have seen increasing threats from organised gangs and migrants, who have been attempting to board vehicles to reach the UK. |
| Farmers are said to be angry at the destruction of crops caused by the swelling of the migrant camp. | Farmers are said to be angry at the destruction of crops caused by the swelling of the migrant camp. |
| The "Jungle" has become the focal point of France's migrant crisis, with about 7,000 people living there from countries such as Sudan, Syria and Eritrea, many of whom exist in squalor. | The "Jungle" has become the focal point of France's migrant crisis, with about 7,000 people living there from countries such as Sudan, Syria and Eritrea, many of whom exist in squalor. |
| BBC News correspondent Richard Galpin says one asylum seeker from Sudan has said he is saddened by the way local people view the camp, saying all they want is to live in peace after escaping from conflict. | BBC News correspondent Richard Galpin says one asylum seeker from Sudan has said he is saddened by the way local people view the camp, saying all they want is to live in peace after escaping from conflict. |
| Lorries and tractors | Lorries and tractors |
| In recent weeks there have been reports of criminal gangs adopting new techniques to try to get migrants into the UK. | In recent weeks there have been reports of criminal gangs adopting new techniques to try to get migrants into the UK. |
| The Mail on Sunday said a log was thrown at a car carrying its journalists last week in a deliberate attempt to make them crash, to try to divert attention away from migrants boarding vehicles. | |
| And last month the BBC broadcast footage of suspected people smugglers blocking the main route to Calais with a felled tree and threatening motorists with violence. | And last month the BBC broadcast footage of suspected people smugglers blocking the main route to Calais with a felled tree and threatening motorists with violence. |
| Jean-Pierre Devigne from France's largest trucking union, the FNTR, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the protesters were "determined to show to the people we are not happy with the situation" and wanted the camp to be closed. | Jean-Pierre Devigne from France's largest trucking union, the FNTR, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the protesters were "determined to show to the people we are not happy with the situation" and wanted the camp to be closed. |
| 'Impossible to leave' | 'Impossible to leave' |
| On Thursday, Mayor of Calais Natacha Bouchart said the blockade would cause "chaos" for British travellers. | On Thursday, Mayor of Calais Natacha Bouchart said the blockade would cause "chaos" for British travellers. |
| Richard Burnett, chief executive of the Road Haulage Association (RHA) said traffic crossing from the UK would find it "almost impossible" to leave the port without access to the A16. | |
| Speaking on Today, Mr Burnett said: "We are very concerned about the impact and as we saw last year... the chances are, if this blockade actually backs the port up, then it will strangle the port and we will see implications back on British soil as well." | Speaking on Today, Mr Burnett said: "We are very concerned about the impact and as we saw last year... the chances are, if this blockade actually backs the port up, then it will strangle the port and we will see implications back on British soil as well." |
| He said there were "insufficient resources" in place to protect British lorry drivers but he sympathised with the protesters and agreed there needed to be "demonstrable plan" that shows the camp will be dismantled. | He said there were "insufficient resources" in place to protect British lorry drivers but he sympathised with the protesters and agreed there needed to be "demonstrable plan" that shows the camp will be dismantled. |
| In February authorities demolished a large area of the southern part of the Jungle, in an attempt to reduce numbers, but the size of the camp has been steadily increasing, according to estimates, and now protesters are calling for the northern area to be dismantled. | In February authorities demolished a large area of the southern part of the Jungle, in an attempt to reduce numbers, but the size of the camp has been steadily increasing, according to estimates, and now protesters are calling for the northern area to be dismantled. |
| The president of the Association of Calais Traders was quoted in a number of papers as saying: "We are changing our tactics after using soft methods and obtaining nothing but promises from the state that it is giving priority to the wellbeing of the migrants over those of traders, port workers, hauliers, tourists and farmers. | The president of the Association of Calais Traders was quoted in a number of papers as saying: "We are changing our tactics after using soft methods and obtaining nothing but promises from the state that it is giving priority to the wellbeing of the migrants over those of traders, port workers, hauliers, tourists and farmers. |
| "We will not budge from the motorway until the state gives us the dates for the total demolition of the northern zone of the 'Jungle'." | "We will not budge from the motorway until the state gives us the dates for the total demolition of the northern zone of the 'Jungle'." |
| Has your journey been affected by the blockade? Are you taking part in the demonstrations? You can share your comments by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Has your journey been affected by the blockade? Are you taking part in the demonstrations? You can share your comments 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: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |