Migrants Storm Trucks In Calais Port Strike

Large numbers of migrants have been attempting to get into UK-bound cars and lorries caught up in queues near Calais.

French ferry employees have been staging a wildcat strike over fears they will lose their jobs next month.

The industrial action has caused widespread travel chaos on both sides of the Channel .

Migrants living in camps near Calais took advantage of the disruption.

People were walking on the road and trying to jump in vehicles stuck in traffic jams on the A16, which leads to the Channel Tunnel.

French police used tear gas to restrain some of the migrants.

The Foreign Office warned Britons driving in the area to keep their car doors locked.

"There are large numbers of illegal migrants in and around Calais, who may seek to enter the UK illegally," it said.

"Although local police patrols have been reinforced, you should keep vehicle doors locked in slow-moving traffic and secure your vehicle when it is left unattended."

Haulier Chris Cary told Sky News he had been stuck at Calais since 3am and described the situation as "the worst I've ever seen".

He said migrants "were trying your doors to get in the cab, trying to sneak under the axles on the trailers, trying to cut the locks and seals on the back of the trailers, even trying to climb on the roof of the trailers".

Truckers were being urged not to stop within about 60 miles (97km) of Calais, to stick with other drivers and make sure padlocks are kept on lorries.

A statement from French police said: "We are seeing the usual phenomenon - some migrants are trying to climb into lorries stopped in traffic jams on the motorway leading to the tunnel.

"They're trying to hide in lorries in particular."

Donald Armour, the Freight Transport Association's international manager, said he was "really, really worried" about someone getting seriously hurt.

"There is a lot of fighting between the migrants who all want to be on the best part of the road to get on to the lorries," he said.

"We haven't had a fatality but it's not good. The situation is definitely worse than it has ever been."

The British Government has been monitoring the situation in Calais closely.

David Cameron will discuss the issue with the French President at the European Council meeting later this week.

"We are in close touch with the French authorities on the situation there and we are monitoring the impact of the strike on British people," said Mr Cameron's spokeswoman.

"The Prime Minister is being kept updated on events."

The Home Office said funding was being provided to bolster security and infrastructure at ports in northern France and Belgium.

The migrant problem in Calais has been growing steadily worse, with more than 3,000 people living in the camps near the port.

Many have fled countries such as Eritrea, Syria and Afghanistan and hope to get to Britain.

The strike by workers from cross-Channel service MyFerryLink was expected to end this evening.