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Ferry sailings limited as Calais blockade suspended Calais ferry sailings resume as ministers intervene
(about 2 hours 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.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. 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. 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.The Port of Calais is restricting entry to one ferry per hour.
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.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. The Port of Dover said it had no idea when the industrial action would end and Highways England predicted it would take until Monday to clear the backlog.
Thousands of lorries remain stranded on the M20 in Kent, with the coastbound carriageway shut for 26 miles. Operation Stack
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. Thousands of lorries remain stranded on the M20 in Kent, with the coastbound carriageway shut for 26 miles, although after ferry services resumed, the clear-up began to gather momentum.
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.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." He said: "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 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 Road Haulage Association has called for the military to be deployed to break the strike. The London-bound carriageway was also closed between Leeds Castle and Ashford, with more than 4,600 lorries parked on the motorway, while non-freight traffic was advised to avoid the M20 and find alternative routes.
"The time for talking around the table has passed," said chief executive Richard Burnett. Action and reaction
"The UK and French governments must acknowledge their responsibilities to all Port of Calais users, move in and act. Kent County Council staff were back on the motorway for a third day, handing out bottles of water to stranded drivers and passengers.
"If this means deployment of the armed forces then so be it." They gave out 7,000 bottles on Wednesday plus 700 snack meals on top of the 2,000 bottles of water and 750 meals on Tuesday.
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.
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.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.
The impact has been felt in surrounding areas, with much of the key north-south routes through Kent blocked for several days and other roads unable to cope with the fallout.
'Absolute bedlam'
Christine Drury, chairman of Westwell Parish Council, a few miles from the M20 near Ashford, said the current disruption was the biggest to the community so far because of the closure of both carriageways.
She said an overturned lorry on the A20, which was bearing the brunt of the extra traffic, caused "absolute bedlam" and effectively shut off the village.
But further chaos was averted when French air traffic controllers called off industrial action in a separate dispute.
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.ukAre you travelling between England and France today? Has your journey been disrupted? You can email your stories to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
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