Heavy congestion at the start of Easter holiday season at the UK port of Dover was still leaving people frustrated on Sunday, even after ferries carried out extra trips overnight to clear the backlog from the day before.

The port of Dover and the Eurotunnel terminus there connect the UK to the French port of Calais and lengthy delays on Saturday, the first day of spring vacation for British schools, upset plans for many families.

Coach passengers were most affected, with some people saying they waited in queue for as many as 16 hours. 

"The additional sailings have assisted in clearing some of the traffic, although currently both [ferry operators] DFDS and P&O have two full lanes of coaches in the port before French border controls, with a processing time of about 4.5 hours," a port spokesman said on Sunday.

"Once coaches are processed in an operator's lane, more are being sent to the port. Currently, the estimated total time is six to eight hours," he added.

Post-Brexit channel crossings

Heavy delays at the Dover-Calais crossing have become a recurring feature since Brexit, with the UK authorities blaming the French for slow border checks and ensuing traffic snarls.

But because of the COVID pandemic and the restrictions on travel soon after the UK's formal exit from the EU in January 2020, it's also been far less common than it might have been in years with normal levels of cross-Channel travel and tourism. 

Interior minister Suella Braverman rejected the idea that the delays were an "adverse effect of Brexit" on Sunday.

"I think we have got a particular combination of factors that have occurred at this point in time," she told Sky News. "This will ease... but it is a busy time of year," she said.

The port said in a statement Saturday that "whilst freight and car processed steadily regardless of the additional challenging weather conditions and high seasonal volumes, coach traffic suffered significant delays due to lengthy French border processes and sheer volume."

The port warned ferry passengers of severe delays and said it was "deeply frustrated" by the situation.

Ferry operator DFDS said that it was offering a "shuttle service" that would put passengers on the next available ship as soon as they check in. 

ab, rm/msh (AFP, AP)