A spokesman for the Port of Dover said concerns about staffing levels at the security posts had been raised with the Government earlier in the week, and those had been passed to French authorities.
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“We want government to look at whether that should be introduced again”, she said, adding that it would be disappointing if delays occurred at a time when British companies had a chance to increase exports due to weak sterling.
Police have warned the delays could last until Monday.
Holidaymakers attempting to get away for a summer break spent hours at a standstill while police helped deliver water supplies by helicopter.
Kent Police said the disruption is down to a “vast volume of holiday traffic” coupled with delays caused by heightened security at the border in the wake of terror attacks.
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The Port of Dover told the BBC that although United Kingdom officials were unable to conduct passport checks at the French border, they had helped with the searching of vehicles.
“The A20 is closed eastbound between the M20 J13 and the junction with the A260 near Folkestone for the safety of traffic queuing to enter the Port of Dover so that it does not have to queue within the Roundhill Tunnel”.
Holidaymakers and lorry drivers have been warned they face queues lasting hours and have been advised to stock up on food and water as the great summer getaway begins.
But by this afternoon, Kent Police said the traffic had improved considerably with drivers queuing at the port experiencing a two hour wait by 1pm.
Severe backlogs have been reported on the A20 and the A2, while measures have been taken to split tourist, freight and local traffic.
Helen Deeble said they were at fault for not providing enough staff for security checks at their border controls.
The problems at Dover came as an estimated two million people headed overseas at the start of the school holidays.
Port of Dover officials said delays approaching the port were lasting four hours.
“The Department for Transport and Home Office knew there would be heightened security checks in place in France”.
“The kids are OK, they have been playing outside in the traffic”.
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“Once into the port complex 12 lanes of vehicles have to merge into just seven French border booths where every passenger is having a full passport check in light of the recent terror attacks on the continent”.
