Weekend travel: How will cross-Channel travellers be affected?

Vast queues of continental freight vehicles are waiting up to nine hours to board Channel crossings. Credit: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire

Cross-Channel travel disruption is set to continue into the weekend due to the problems at Calais terminals and the impact of Operation Stack.

Roads closed to allow for the queuing of continent-bound freight traffic in Kent are likely to remain shut until Sunday afternoon at the earliest.

The M20 coastbound (eastbound) in Kent remains closed between J8 (near Maidstone) and J11 (Hythe) for Operation Stack, with diversion routes still in place for non-HGV freight traffic.

The M20 and A20 routes are scheduled by the Highways Agency to re-open at 3pm on Sunday.

Travellers heading to the Eurotunnel Terminal have been warned there is no local access from the A20.

Drivers instead need to re-join the M20 coastbound at J11 to allow access to the Terminal from J11a.

Channel crossings have been severely disrupted amid increased attempts of migrants to reach the UK through Calais. Credit: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire

Eurotunnel urged travellers to check local traffic conditions on the Highways England website across the weekend and to allow for extra time to be able to check in for a booked departure.

The company's Friday service began with morning disruption as an unplanned tunnel inspection took place.

Passengers faced delays of up to an hour in terminals on both sides of the Channel along with increased waiting times before check-in.

Eurotunnel is currently unable to sell tickets to customers without reservations.

Migrants have been spotted travelling into the UK on top of lorries at the Eurotunnel site in Folkestone. Credit: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire

Eurostar also reported delays of up to an hour as trains shared a single rail line through the tunnel amid the inspection.

The company however has not currently forecast disruption across the weekend.

Eurotunnel and Eurostar services have been hit by delays this month. Credit: Stefan Rousseau/PA Archive

Kent Police estimated freight weighting times of six hours upon joining Operation Stack at the Port of Dover and nine hours at Eurotunnel, with all lorry drivers requiring a ticket to join the mass queue.

The Stack traffic is separated into two queues on either side of the carriageway, one for tunnel traffic and one for port traffic, with space in between for emergency vehicles to pass.

The queues are released each time a ferry or train is due to depart to ensure the most amount of freight can continue to their destination in Europe.

Kent Police urged all travellers to contact their operator before setting off on your journey.

Eurotunnel passengers can call 08444 630000. Eurostar ticket holders can visit www.eurostar.com. Those travelling through the Port of Dover can call 01304 240 400 or visit www.doverport.co.uk