Striking French ferry workers have blockaded the entrance to the Channel tunnel with burning tyres, causing further delays for holidaymakers and lorry drivers.
Thick, black plumes of smoke billowed over the French port on Tuesday in the latest of a series of protests over proposed job cuts. The workers left after police were called, but the burning tyres caused the closure of the A16, one of the main roads leading to the port, shutting off access to the terminal until the road was repaired.
Eurotunnel initially warned of heavy congestion and long delays on the French side, but by mid-afternoon a spokesman said all services had returned to normal.
“A couple of hours ago the protesters went on to the motorway and started burning tyres at the two entrances to the Channel tunnel terminal,” he said. “They were burning tyres and blockading the motorway, preventing access to the terminal. This was on the public highway, so we called the police and local authorities to remove the protesters and allow access to our terminal.”
There were no delays reported on Eurostar services.
The Calais ferry workers’ dispute had been on hold for the past week as negotiations were held between the French government, Eurotunnel and a seamen’s union and workers’ cooperative. The protests resumed after a meeting on Monday failed to break the deadlock.
The dispute has led to increased unrest in and around Calais, as the long queues of traffic caused by the industrial action increased the opportunity for thousands of migrants living in makeshift camps to try to stow away on lorries heading for the UK.
