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Ferry sailings limited as Calais blockade suspended | Ferry sailings limited as Calais blockade suspended |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Lorries caught up in huge jams on the M20 heading for the Port of Dover are beginning to move after limited ferry services resumed. | |
A blockade at Calais by French ferry workers, which started on Monday, has been suspended, although the threat of further action remains. | |
Home secretary Theresa May is due to discuss the problems with her French counterpart Bernard Cazeneuve in Paris. | |
The Port of Calais is restricting entry to one ferry per hour. | |
Motorway closed | Motorway closed |
P&O said Calais port was open for traffic in both directions and it would sail every two hours from Dover to Calais. | |
The Port of Dover said it had no idea when the industrial action would end. | |
Thousands of lorries remain stranded on the M20 in Kent, with the coastbound carriageway shut for 26 miles. | Thousands of lorries remain stranded on the M20 in Kent, with the coastbound carriageway shut for 26 miles. |
Phase four of Operation Stack, in which the motorway was closed from Leeds Castle to Folkestone to park lorries, was put in place for the first time on Wednesday. | |
The London-bound carriageway was also closed between Leeds Castle and Ashford and non-freight traffic has been advised to avoid the M20 and find alternative routes. | The London-bound carriageway was also closed between Leeds Castle and Ashford and non-freight traffic has been advised to avoid the M20 and find alternative routes. |
The BBC's Angus Crawford, who is near the M20, said the backlog of lorries was now being moved "in large numbers" towards Dover. | |
He said: "Vehicles are moving at speed. Police are releasing HGVs in groups to head to Dover and the tunnel. Vehicles behind them are being moved up to join the queue. The M20 at junction nine is still closed to traffic in both directions." | |
Armed forces | Armed forces |
The Road Haulage Association has called for the military to be deployed to break the strike. | The Road Haulage Association has called for the military to be deployed to break the strike. |
"The time for talking around the table has passed," said chief executive Richard Burnett. | "The time for talking around the table has passed," said chief executive Richard Burnett. |
"The UK and French governments must acknowledge their responsibilities to all Port of Calais users, move in and act. | "The UK and French governments must acknowledge their responsibilities to all Port of Calais users, move in and act. |
"If this means deployment of the armed forces then so be it." | "If this means deployment of the armed forces then so be it." |
Kent County Council said it gave 7,000 bottles of water to drivers stuck on the motorway in the stifling heat on Wednesday. | Kent County Council said it gave 7,000 bottles of water to drivers stuck on the motorway in the stifling heat on Wednesday. |
It also handed out 700 snack meals. | It also handed out 700 snack meals. |
But reporter Tomos Morgan, who was travelling with a lorry driver to Belgium, said those stranded midway between junctions had to wait up to 12 hours for water. | |
French workers on MyFerryLink staged their wildcat strike to protest at the sale of the Eurotunnel-owned ships to Danish firm DFDS after a competition authority ruling. | French workers on MyFerryLink staged their wildcat strike to protest at the sale of the Eurotunnel-owned ships to Danish firm DFDS after a competition authority ruling. |
DFDS officially took over the MyFerryLink service at midnight. | DFDS officially took over the MyFerryLink service at midnight. |
DFDS continues to run to Dunkirk, with an additional ship diverted to the route to help accommodate heavy traffic. | DFDS continues to run to Dunkirk, with an additional ship diverted to the route to help accommodate heavy traffic. |
Are you travelling between England and France today? Has your journey been disrupted? You can email your stories to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Are you travelling between England and France today? Has your journey been disrupted? You can email your stories to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
If you are happy to speak to a BBC journalist, please include your contact telephone number. | If you are happy to speak to a BBC journalist, please include your contact telephone number. |
You can also tweet your stories to @BBC_HaveYourSay or message us on WhatsApp +44 7525 900971. | You can also tweet your stories to @BBC_HaveYourSay or message us on WhatsApp +44 7525 900971. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international). Or you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international). Or you can upload here. |
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