Severe delays into France via the English port of Dover and the Channel Tunnel were slowing travel Saturday at the peak of the summer vacation season, when many British families visit Europe by auto.
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Those caught up in the traffic are waiting to cross the Channel and start their summer holidays in France and other European countries that they intend to travel onto.
Police have said that the huge queues have been caused by the large number of people making the journey, as well as delays caused by extra security checks at the French border.
A local politician said that holidaymakers and other travellers were owed an apology after planning failures led to chaotic conditions.
Police have even been flying in bottles of water by helicopter for people who are stranded.
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.
On Sunday morning Kent Police said people could expect delays of 10 hours on the A20, with around 12 miles of queuing traffic back to junction 11 of the M20.
After complaints that just one French officer was available to check in coaches on Friday night into Saturday, port authorities said six booths – four for cars, one for coaches and one for freight traffic – were manned overnight into Sunday.
The Government said Kent police will also be “proactively managing” traffic to get drivers through more quickly.
Ferry companies have said they will accommodate travelers who miss their slot due to the heavy traffic by placing them on the next available boat. Police said travelers should try to stay off the highways and use smaller roads to avoid the traffic jams.
It added: “With the summer getaway there are severe delays on the M2/A2, M20/A20 and at Round Hill tunnel”.
We are acutely aware of the effect the disruption is having in the Dover area and we continue to co-operate with the French authorities about a range of operational matters.
Mr Elphicke said the situation was “completely unacceptable” and should have been predicted.
“We recognise the extraordinary security pressures that French law enforcement organisations are under at this time and are working closely with them and commercial partners to ensure passengers and hauliers of goods are processed as efficiently as possible on both sides of the channel”.
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He blamed Highways England, Eurotunnel, the Home Office, and the Department of Transport for not being prepared for the busy weekend.
