Travellers at the Port of Dover faced waits of up to two and a half hours on Saturday, according to officials.
A nine-lane-wide queue stretched alongside the white cliffs throughout Saturday morning on the approach to the border, where French guards were checking passports.
However, in an update posted just before 1pm on Saturday the Port of Dover said the average border processing time for tourists after arrival at the buffer zone was 45 minutes.
Previously, before 11am, it wrote: “The port is extremely popular during the summer. The average border processing time for tourists is currently 150 minutes.”
Earlier, after 9.50am, it said the average processing time to border control was “90-120 mins”.
It later added that there were “enhanced amenities” in place “for the summer season” at the port, including water refill points at the passenger terminal beyond check-in.
At just before 7am it said the average waiting time through the border was 120 minutes “as per our peak travel plan for the busiest times”, adding: “Rest assured, you will be on the next available sailing upon reaching check-in.”
However, some travellers challenged the estimated waiting times given by officials.
One woman wrote at 10.15am: “We arrived at 7:30am and are still waiting!”
A man posting at just after 8am said he had been queueing for more than two hours and had missed his ferry: “It’s terrible on so many levels and highly stressful … Feel sorry for locals living with this and all the pollution from idling traffic.”
Some vented their frustration by honking their horns.
Google Maps had showed dark red lines, the slowest category, reaching into the town, with slow traffic all along the A20 almost to Folkestone.
The Guardian contacted the Port of Dover for comment.
Port officials said overnight that more than 35,000 people had passed through on their way to France on Friday and had advised those travelling on Saturday not to arrive more than three hours before their sailing time.
They said those travelling must pass through border checks by French officials before boarding their ferry and advised them to use only the main routes to avoid further traffic delays.
Travellers were also advised to check with their ferry operator for information on the next sailings.
