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Calais fire blockades as strike disrupts Channel crossings Calais fire blockades as strike disrupts Channel crossings
(about 1 hour later)
The port of Calais has been closed following a series of blockades mounted by striking French workers. The Port of Calais is closed following blockades by striking French workers, causing severe disruption in Kent.
The move has caused widespread disruption to ferry operators and Eurotunnel services are affected. Ferries are stuck at Dover and part of the M20 has shut as lorries wait to cross the Channel. Eurotunnel services are also affected.
Migrant activity is reported to have increased as a result of the strike, with attempted break-ins at the French port and people trying to get on to slow-moving lorries in motorway queues. The industrial action is by MyFerryLink workers, Dover Harbour Board said.
The BBC has been told the industrial action is by MyFerryLink workers. Migrant activity is reported to have increased, with people attempting to board Kent-bound lorries in France.
BBC South East reporter Simon Jones said the company's vessels were preventing other ships at Calais from moving. Earlier, migrants also tried to break into the French Eurotunnel terminal and Calais port.
Operation Stack, where lorries are parked on the M20 and non-freight traffic diverted off the motorway, is expected to be implemented on the M20 as freight traffic on the roads surrounding the Port of Dover increases. BBC South East reporter Simon Jones said MyFerryLink vessels were preventing other ships at Calais from moving.
'Road on fire' 'Fears for jobs'
Dover Harbour Board said the industrial action closed the Port of Calais in the early hours and all ferries to and from Dover were affected, apart from DFDS Seaways which was still running services to Dunkirk. P&O Ferries said the MyFerryLink workers feared for their jobs after their ships were sold by Eurotunnel to DFDS at short notice.
Chief executive of P&O Ferries Helen Deeble said the sale had taken place with neither party appearing to engage constructively with French staff.
She also said P&O was bearing the brunt of the disruption and called on the French authorities to ensure free movement across EU borders and safety around Calais.
DFDS said it had received confirmation on Monday that Eurotunnel had accepted its offer for the ferries Rodin and Berlioz.
MyFerryLink has said its operations will end after 2 July and all bookings after that date will be refunded.
In Kent, cross-Channel freight traffic waiting to cross Dover has built up and Operation Stack has been brought in to close part of the M20 so lorries can queue on the motorway.
Dover Harbour Board said the industrial action closed the Port of Calais in the early hours and all ferries to and from Dover were affected, apart from DFDS Seaways which is still running services to Dunkirk.
Simon Jones said the estimated waiting time to get on a ferry at Dunkirk heading to Dover was currently six hours.
A Eurotunnel spokesman said the strike was expected to last until 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT), but the rail operator was trying to run as many trains as possible.A Eurotunnel spokesman said the strike was expected to last until 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT), but the rail operator was trying to run as many trains as possible.
He said port workers had blockaded the entrance to the Eurotunnel site and in consequence there had been motorway disruption and increased migrant activity with people trying to climb on to vehicles as well as break-in attempts.He said port workers had blockaded the entrance to the Eurotunnel site and in consequence there had been motorway disruption and increased migrant activity with people trying to climb on to vehicles as well as break-in attempts.
Lorry driver Chris Cary, from Rochester, said he tried to cross the Channel back to Kent in the early hours but then decided to attempt getting on a train instead.Lorry driver Chris Cary, from Rochester, said he tried to cross the Channel back to Kent in the early hours but then decided to attempt getting on a train instead.
But he said he found the road on fire as he approached the terminal with about 500-600 trucks waiting to cross and police and firefighters at the scene.But he said he found the road on fire as he approached the terminal with about 500-600 trucks waiting to cross and police and firefighters at the scene.
"I didn't cancel my booking this morning for P&O, so I've literally just come back to the port and I'm now sitting back on the lane where I was at 03:10 this morning waiting for a boat," he said."I didn't cancel my booking this morning for P&O, so I've literally just come back to the port and I'm now sitting back on the lane where I was at 03:10 this morning waiting for a boat," he said.
Dover port has urged people travelling with DFDS Seaways, P&O and MyFerryLink to check with their operators before travelling.Dover port has urged people travelling with DFDS Seaways, P&O and MyFerryLink to check with their operators before travelling.
But MyFerryLink tweeted: "Port of Dover severely congested. Please do not try to check in."But MyFerryLink tweeted: "Port of Dover severely congested. Please do not try to check in."