Travellers are facing waits of up to two hours at the Port of Dover during one of the most popular mornings of the summer, officials have said.
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.
Port of Dover officials said overnight that over 35,000 people had passed through on their way to France on Friday and had told travellers on Saturday not to arrive more than three hours before their sail time.
At 7am, they wrote: “The current average processing time through to the border is 120 minutes, as per our peak travel plan for the busiest times.
“Rest assured, you will be on the next available sailing upon reaching check in.”
Google Maps showed dark red lines, the slowest category, reaching into the town, with slow traffic all along the A20 almost to Folkestone.
Some drivers have been venting their frustration by honking their horns and an ambulance flashing blue lights was temporarily stuck in traffic but has now got through.
By 9.30am, officials said the wait time had come down to 90-120 minutes, and that travellers must pass through border checks by Police Aux Frontieres before boarding their ferry.
They have told travellers to use the main routes only to avoid further traffic delays, adding: “This morning is one of our most popular times of travel throughout the summer.
“The current processing time reaching border controls is 90-120 minutes.”
