Reprieve For Lorries As Calais Strike Suspended

Thousands of lorry drivers parked on the M20 in Kent for a fourth day are beginning to move as the partial closure of the Port of Calais was temporarily suspended.

The second strike by ferry workers in a week has prompted chaos on both sides of the English Channel, with migrants camped near the French port taking advantage of slow-moving and queueing traffic by trying to board UK-bound vehicles.

But P&O said it was now running ferries in both directions between Dover and Calais around every two hours, although the firm fears it is only a temporary reprieve before action resumes.

It comes as Home Secretary Theresa May is due to hold talks in Paris with French counterpart Bernard Cazeneuve over the ongoing crisis.

The UK's Road Haulage Association called for the military to be deployed to break the strike, while claiming livelihoods and lives were at risk.

Chief executive Richard Burnett said it was "absolute mayhem", adding: "The time for talking around the table has passed.

"The UK and French governments must acknowledge their responsibilities to all Port of Calais users, move in and act.

"If this means deployment of the armed forces then so be it.

"Let's get this desperate mess sorted out now and talk about a long-term solution afterwards.

"The scale of the current situation has to be seen to be believed.

"The only word to describe what is happening there is absolute mayhem."

MyFerryLink workers sparked the disruption on Monday when they staged a wildcat strike in protest at expected job cuts in the French port city.

The blockade at Calais was partially lifted at 6pm on Wednesday, allowing P&O to begin a "limited" service.