M5 traffic live: Multi-vehicle crash in West Country as Christmas getaway continues

Eurotunnel strike backlog starts to clear

Christmas getaway chaos is expected to continue on Friday as the backlog from the suspension of cross-Channel rail services begins to clear and the weather remains unsettled. An unexpected strike by Eurotunnel French site staff on Thursday led to widespread disruption, before it came to end in the evening – with trade union representatives reaching an agreement with management. The industrial action affected Eurostar – which operates passenger services to and from London St Pancras – and Eurotunnel Le Shuttle, which runs vehicle-carrying trains to and from Folkestone.

At least 30 Eurostar trains were cancelled but services will resume on Friday morning, with the company promising to run six extra trains between Paris and London into the weekend – an extra two trains each on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Le Shuttle services resumed Thursday evening. As a result of the suspension in cross-Channel rail services, the M20 coastbound carriageway between Junctions 8 and 9 was temporarily closed.

Kent Police announced the “emergency measure” to allow freight bound for the continent to queue on the empty section of motorway to try to minimise disruption to Kent’s wider road network.

The Port of Dover reported 90-minute wait times for tourists at French border control, which was “expected to clear” over Thursday evening.