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Blockade halts channel crossings Blockade halts channel crossings
(40 minutes later)
Ferry operator P&O has cancelled all Dover to Calais crossings due to a blockade by French fishing boats.Ferry operator P&O has cancelled all Dover to Calais crossings due to a blockade by French fishing boats.
The blockade at the port of Calais is also causing motorway disruption in Kent, police have said.The blockade at the port of Calais is also causing motorway disruption in Kent, police have said.
Fishing fleets have been stopping ships entering or leaving Calais, Boulogne, and Dunkirk, in a dispute over fishing quotas, since Tuesday.Fishing fleets have been stopping ships entering or leaving Calais, Boulogne, and Dunkirk, in a dispute over fishing quotas, since Tuesday.
Services to Boulogne and Dunkirk have also been called off until further notice, P&O said.Services to Boulogne and Dunkirk have also been called off until further notice, P&O said.
The blockade at Calais was temporarily lifted overnight but was brought back in early on Wednesday. Norfolkline passenger Charles Suckling, who has been stranded at Dunkirk since Tuesday evening, said he and his family had food and water but had no idea how long they would have to wait.
A statement from the P&O said: "Neither P&O Ferries nor the three other ferry companies operating out of Dover are sailing to Calais today, nor are there any services to Boulogne or Dunkirk until further notice. He said: "We've been sleeping in the car."
"This is due to the French fishermen reinstating their blockade at 0600 this morning." At six o'clock, eight fishing boats went back into the port of Calais and the whole thing kicked off again Chris Laming, P&O spokesman
Long-term travellers are being advised to make their way to the port and make alternative arrangements, which could include rail travel. Mr Suckling said the French Red Cross was handing out thermal blankets to passengers who were in their cars, and also setting up camp beds and sleeping tents in the Norfolkline building.
Day trippers are being advised to rebook their journeys. The French army had also arrived to deliver food rations, he added.
Fishing catches P&O spokesman Chris Laming said blockades were lifted temporarily overnight, allowing the ferry operator to repatriate 3,000 passengers who were waiting on the quayside.
He said: "We got them all home by about two o'clock this morning, but at six o'clock, eight fishing boats went back into the port of Calais and the whole thing kicked off again."
Mr Laming said fishing vessels had strung themselves across the entrance to the port, and the blockades operated "on the principle that we dare not run them over".
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Kent Police said part of the M20 was closed again on Wednesday to cope with the disruption.Kent Police said part of the M20 was closed again on Wednesday to cope with the disruption.
The force said Operation Stack - where lorries awaiting Channel crossings park on the coastbound M20 - was lifted overnight but then brought back in. The force said Operation Stack - in which lorries awaiting Channel crossings park on the coastbound M20 - was lifted overnight but then brought back in.
Police advised cross-Channel passengers to contact travel operators for further details.Police advised cross-Channel passengers to contact travel operators for further details.
On Tuesday, a P&O ferry with nearly 400 passengers on board returned to Dover after being prevented from entering Calais.
The vessel had sailed from the Kent port before industrial action affecting cross-channel ferry services began.
On Tuesday night, ferry operator P&O said it hoped to clear a backlog of 3,000 passengers by the morning.
The operator was trying to get "as many ships away as possible overnight" because of expected continued blockades on Wednesday.
French fishing unions have said they are protesting at ever tougher EU-imposed quotas, and demanding the French government take a stand on their behalf or offer more financial assistance.French fishing unions have said they are protesting at ever tougher EU-imposed quotas, and demanding the French government take a stand on their behalf or offer more financial assistance.
The EU has said that limiting the size of fishing catches is the best way to stop stocks being wiped out through over-fishing.The EU has said that limiting the size of fishing catches is the best way to stop stocks being wiped out through over-fishing.
Information from P&O said that neither P&O Ferries nor the three other ferry companies operating out of Dover were sailing to Calais on Wednesday, nor were there any services to Boulogne or Dunkirk until further notice.
Long-term travellers were advised to make their way to the port and make alternative arrangements, which could include rail travel.
Day trippers were advised to rebook their journeys.
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Fishing fleets are blockading ports in a dispute over fishing quotasFishing fleets are blockading ports in a dispute over fishing quotas