Fishermen are using their boats to stop ferries entering and leaving port
French fishermen have temporarily lifted their blockade of three French ports, allowing thousands of ferry passengers across the English Channel.
The dispute had left UK-bound ferries stranded overnight, as the French Red Cross and French Army handed out food and blankets to people awaiting travel.
Stranded passengers in Calais include coach-loads of children who have spent their Easter break on the Continent.
The blockade, which is over EU fishing quotas, is due to resume on Thursday.
Threats of legal action have come from both ferry and rail firms against the protesters fighting EU fishing quotas.
The blockades began on Tuesday afternoon, preventing ships from entering or leaving Calais, Boulogne and Dunkirk.
P&O Ferries said it expected to clear the backlog of waiting traffic by midnight on Wednesday, with 450 freight vehicles queuing on the M20 in Kent, which has been turned into a giant lorry park to cope with the cross-Channel delays.
Approximately 600 lorries are waiting at Calais with 1,200 passengers still stuck at the French port.
French fishing unions have been protesting at ever tougher EU-imposed quotas, and demanding the French government take a stand on their behalf or offer more financial assistance.
Legal action
On Wednesday, French ministers refused protesters' demands for increased cod quotas, but said they might offer extra financial support.
P&O has already said it is preparing a compensation case against the fishermen, and has estimated the cost to its business at about £1m a day.
The French general workers' union CFDT has said members will blockade Eurostar and Eurotunnel services at the Channel Tunnel on Thursday if port protests are still in place.
Eurotunnel has said it will seek redress through the courts, if there was a blockade.
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