Dover has been plunged into traffic chaos with roads leading up to the port at a standstill.
The delays have been caused by a number of different factors, including bad weather and disruption to cross-Channel ferries.
P&O Ferries have also been partly blamed for the queues, after the suspension of their services left three of the company’s vessels left berth in Dover.
Congestion caused by tourists travelling to Kent for the Easter holidays have also been deemed a factor.
As a result of the queues, drivers have been forced to wait hours to board their ferries.
The Department for Transport have said they are aware of the traffic problems and are working with authorities to prevent further delays.
In a statement, the department said: “We are aware of queues at Dover, and the Kent Resilience Forum and local partners are working to minimise any disruption by deploying temporary traffic management measures as standard,” it said in a statement.
Vehicles at a standstill near Dover
Nick Gale/PA
P&O have been partly blamed for the delays
Gareth Fuller
“This has been caused by a number of factors, including severe weather in the Channel.”
Dover MP Natalie Elphicke has blamed P&O Ferries for the delays.
Ms Elphicke said: “The traffic disruption caused by P&O’s actions is very serious. Coupled with adverse weather conditions and the Easter get-away traffic the situation has become severe. This can be expected to continue for the next few days.”
Ms Elphicke warned the disruption is expected to last for the next few days.
Nick Gale, a teacher from Kent says he has been stuck in the traffic for more than two hours, missing the ferry he and his family had booked to Calais.
Mr Gale said: “No communication at all from port staff. Policeman said it was basically the perfect storm, less ferries… plus bad weather and (the) P&O issue.
“I think around Dover it’s awful, there is no communication for what non-freight customers (are) to do. We’re local to the area so knew a couple of ways to beat the huge queues but it’s literally not moving,” he told PA News Agency.
“We’ve got no food and an eight-year-old in the back moaning.”