Frustrated holidaymakers facing hours worth of delays to drive from Dover to Calais have accused border officials of “Brexit payback” on social media.
The weekend saw thousands of people stranded on roads into Dover - with families including pregnant women and the elderly having to spend the night in their cars in hot and humid conditions.
One Twitter user wrote: “Welcome to effects of #Brexit. France tightens its borders, British citizens throw toys in the pram. #Dover”.
Police warned drivers the disruption could last for weeks because of extra security checks after recent terrorist attacks.
A spokesperson from the Port of Dover said in a statement: “Basically, ever since the Paris attacks, the French have been on heightened security – it’s much more intensive.”
But checkpoints in Dover were severely understaffed despite the large increase in traffic as the holiday season started.
Today an estimated 250,000 people still face being delayed for up to 10 hours or more as they try to get through the passport checks at Dover.
Xavier Bertrand, president of the Calais area regional council, called the queues “unacceptable” but added they highlighted how Brexit would have “consequences”.
But Conservative MP Patrick McLoughlin dismissed the possibility that queues in Dover were a “punishment” by the French.
Speaking on The Andrew Marr Show, he said: “I know there have been discussions between our government and the French government to make sure we ease the situation as much as we possibly can. But I think one does have to acknowledge that the horrendous incident in Nice would have put the French authorities on higher alert.
“To the French and to us tourism is a very important industry and no one wants to see people starting their holidays getting frustrated in the way that they are and held up.”
