Warning Port of Dover chaos could spill over weekend as queues last six hours

Holidaymakers have been warned the chaos that sparked six-hour queues in Dover could spill over into the weekend, after the port declared a 'critical incident which he blamed on "woefully inadequate" French border control staff.

The Port of Kent has apologized to travelers facing long waits to cross the Channel on an extremely busy day for traveling around the UK, as schools in England and Wales split up for the holidays.

L 'AA has warned of a 'bumper-to-bumper summer' on the roads, while train strikes and growing demand at strained UK airports are also expected to add headaches to holidaymakers.

Chaotic scenes around Dover took center stage on Friday as the getaway e stivale was starting in earnest.

The Port Dover chief executive Doug Bannister declared a critical incident, telling the BBC that the port had been "severely abandoned" by the checks at French borders which were "insufficient". enough resources" despite prior warning of high traffic volumes.

French police have blamed an "unexpected technical incident" in the Channel Tunnel which delayed the early arrival of border control officers at Dover over an hour in. Tunnel operator Getlink said a signal cable was repaired at 7.30am but it was not to blame, stressing that the "critical incident" in Dover had been declared several hours earlier.

As long traffic jams developed on the roads - causing traffic jams in the port city it -even - Bannister advised passengers to be prepared with water, snacks and supplies, and to check with their ferry operator for updates.

P&O Ferries, one of Dover's leading passenger operators, said customers to allow at least six hours to clear security checks, while rival DFDS, which makes up to 30 crossings a day between Dover and Calais, has advised four hours to check in and clear border controls.

The Port of Dover said: "We know this resource is limited, but the popularity of Dover comes as no surprise. Unfortunately, the resources of the Aux Police Borders (PAF) fell short and fell well short of what is needed to ensure a smooth first weekend of the peak summer getaway period."

A passenger, who was due to leave Dover on Friday, decided at the last minute to spend £400 on alternative journeys to avoid queues at the port John Till, a West Dorset railway manager, feared of being stuck in a traffic jam for hours with his 87-year-old mother, Edna Johnson, on her way to visit friends in Germany.

"At four and half this morning I made the quick decision to book a new trip with Brittany Ferries and travel from Poole Port which is much easier. us expensive," Till said. There was "no way I would let my mum down", he added.

Residents of Kent were warned earlier in the week that county roads were getting busier as the week began. of the summer getaway. The Kent Resilience Forum, a partnership of agencies and organisations, has told residents they need to be prepared for journeys to take longer than normal.

Residents and businesses have already been caught in the traffic chaos several times this year, as tourist travel has rebounded from the pandemic, while cross-Channel freight volumes have increased.

Dover was hit by particularly long queues ahead of the Easter School Holidays, when parts of the M20 coastal motorway were turned into parking lots for heavy goods vehicles waiting to reach France .

The disruption was caused by a shortage of ferries, following P&O Mass layoffs of crew by the ferries and poor weather conditions, combined with the temporary shutdown of a key customs IT system after Brexit