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Dover Chaos: Disruption Could Last Until Monday

Travellers are facing days of misery after police warned disruption on the roads to Dover could last until Monday.

People travelling across the Channel are currently being warned to expect delays of around 14 hours after security checks were stepped up at the request of French authorities.

Many were stuck overnight and others have been stranded for hours in tailbacks as they made their way to the Channel at the start of the summer holidays.

Increased checks have been put in place in the wake of recent terror attacks, but questions have been raised about the level of staffing to deal with the increase in people travelling.

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Severe backlogs have been reported on the A20 and the A2, while measures have been taken to split tourist, freight and local traffic.

Those stuck in the queues have been told to stock up on food and water, while a helicopter from the National Police Air Service is being used to help provide water to motorists.

Despite temperatures peaking at around 20.2C (68.36F), police have advised people to stay in their cars.

They said: "Kent Police is urging motorists to remain with their vehicles - traffic is stop and start and exiting vehicles can be dangerous.

"Delays have also been caused by motorists not being with their vehicles when traffic starts moving."

Port authorities said French border control booths at Dover had been "seriously understaffed overnight", saying coaches at one point had to wait 40 minutes each for all passengers to be checked in.

A spokesman said concerns about staffing were raised with the Government earlier in the week, and that these had been passed to the French authorities as well.

The Conservative MP for Dover, Charlie Elphicke, who was struck in traffic for around two hours on Friday evening, said there had been a lack of planning which led to "poor transport management".

He said the situation was "completely unacceptable" and should have been predicted, adding the people who are stuck should be given an apology.

Kent Police, who alongside the coastguard and county council are delivering more than 11,000 bottles of water, said the disruption has been caused by a "vast volume of holiday traffic" coupled with delays caused by heightened security.

People travelling have been advised to take food and water supplies, check ahead before leaving, and to make alternative arrangements if possible.

P&O Ferries said it would hold sailings to ensure stuck customers could travel, while Le Shuttle - which runs the passenger service at Folkestone - has warned there is a 90-minute wait to check-in.

Those who are stranded described the situation as "tragic" and said people had been given little information.

Many people had stepped out of their cars and children were playing football to entertain themselves, according to Sonia Tutt, who was making her way to Germany.

Chris Bussell - who has been waiting in his car with his four children, told Sky News: "We joined queue at eight thirty this morning and have been sat in it ever since.

"We are hanging in there. We don't know what's going on, we are looking on our phones but there is no real update."

A female German motorist, who did not want to be named, said: "We just came from Dorset. We were standing still in a tunnel for an hour, which is dangerous.

"The British never have a plan what to do. It's nothing to do with Brexit. Your organisation is completely chaotic."

Another motorist said: "We are very frustrated, tired and angry.

"We set off from Scarborough at 4am and we have now gone three miles in four hours. I can't see why it has to be like this. There is not much you can do."