Holidays start with monster snarl-up at Channel port

She said: “Increased security checks at the border are completely understandable but the French authorities must provide adequate numbers of staff to ensure that these checks can be processed quickly and efficiently”.

Kent Police have issued a warning to motorists planning to travel through the port to carry food and water and check with travel operators before setting off.

French authorities have been accused of punishing British holiday makers for voting to leave the European Union by severely understaffing the border at Dover which left an estimated quarter of a million holiday makers and travellers stranded on roads leading to the port yesterday..

The port said it had raised concerns over French staffing levels with the United Kingdom government earlier this week, which were then brought up with its French counterparts.

The Port of Dover told the BBC that although United Kingdom officials were unable to conduct passport checks at the French border, they had helped with the searching of vehicles.

Kent Police warned that some motorists face delays of eight hours before arriving at the port.

“We are also working closely with Highways England, Kent Police and the Port of Dover to tackle the disruption”.

People travelling, many heading off for a summer break, spent up to 15 hours at a standstill in queued traffic while water supplies were dropped along the jam by police helicopter on Saturday.

Those stuck on the roads, some for most of the day, said they were frustrated at the lack of information as to when the disruption might end.

Lengthy queues materialised after the French authorities introduced stricter border checks in the wake of the Nice attack.

Responding to the situation the Freight Transport Association has said that now is the ideal opportunity to consider the feasibility of the proposed lorry area near Stanford being made available for tourist traffic if needed in order to keep the M20 moving.

However he dismissed claims by some motorists that the French authorities were “punishing” British holidaymakers for the Brexit vote.

The queues reportedly began to build up in Dover around 6am on Saturday and police are saying they could continue on into Monday.

France has been in a state f emergency since the Paris terror attacks in November 2015 in which 130 died.

“It’s one of the busiest travel periods of the year for our service and due to recent events in France security checks are heavily reinforced”, Eurotunnel said in an update to passengers.