Passengers urged to check ferries

The blockades have led to Operation Stack being implemented in Kent

Passengers booked on cross-Channel ferries have been advised to contact ferry operators before travelling as blockades of French ports continue.

Some other cross-Channel services have reported an increase in demand as a result of the action by fishermen.

Eurotunnel, operator of the Channel Tunnel, said it was running extra capacity for vehicles and freight.

It has increased departures on car passenger services to three each way, and freight services from four to five.

It said it was monitoring the situation hour by hour to see how it developed and might increase capacity further at peak times.

'Legal action'

However, Eurotunnel dismissed reported threats that its services could also be blockaded on Thursday.

A spokesman said the company would take legal action if the Channel Tunnel was blockaded.

Eurostar, the high-speed foot-passenger train operating between the UK and Europe, said its services were unaffected by the French action.

The dispute by French fishermen, which began on Tuesday afternoon, has affected the ports of Calais, Boulogne, and Dunkirk.

Services with P&O Ferries, SeaFrance, Norfolkline and LD Lines are subject to disruption as a result.

Flights monitored

LD Lines said it was running its service between Newhaven, in East Sussex, to Dieppe as normal.

But spokesman Nick Stevens said because Boulogne was blockaded, it was diverting its return service from Dover to the port of Dieppe.

He said as a result, the 1230 BST sailing to Dieppe had been fully booked for tourist cars and freight, with the return 2100 BST Dieppe sailing to Dover also looking very busy.

The one round-trip-a-day service between Dover and Dieppe will continue until further notice, Mr Stevens said.

Airlines flying to Paris said they were closely monitoring the situation at the French ports, with easyJet saying it had seen "a last minute increase in passengers, particularly on the Luton to Paris route".

Have you been caught up in the blockades? Has your trip been cancelled? Are you a truck driver trying to get to or from your destination?

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