Additional reporting by Alex Jee

Rail passengers have branded Eurostar's suspension of Kent services "insane and pointless" after continental trains ceased stopping in the county almost three years ago.

Thousands have now backed a petition urging the company to return the international rail service after it was "snatched away" during lockdown.

And travellers at Ashford International station this week hit out at the move which is not expected to return until 2025 despite some renewed hope that better Anglo-French relations could hold the key to their return.

Trains to the European mainland have not called at Ebbsfleet or Ashford since the beginning of Covid restrictions.

Those travelling to the continent from Kent have to get to London St Pancras International before re-boarding and travelling back through the county and onwards through the Channel Tunnel.

When KentOnline spoke to rail users at Ashford, many called it a waste to see the international side of the station sit empty and want to see services running again.

Sarah Curry, 42, from Finberry, in Ashford, said: "We used to use the Eurostar to go on holiday to the South of France because it used to go to Avignon.

"I haven’t used it since it's gone because it's too much hassle.

"We live in Ashford, it seems pointless to go all the way to London to come all the way back.

"It has taken away a lot of tourism for the town.

"Lots of hotels have been built but now there is no Eurostar for those people to use."

Rye resident Susan Ridgers, 53, said: "I think it should come back, what a waste. It would be good for tourists, local shops and businesses which at the moment need all the help they can get.

"We have been to Disneyland a couple of times, it's easier to go from Rye to Ashford, then on to Disney."

Backing calls for the Eurostar to return is Heather Jarman from Godinton Park, Ashford who says so many people miss having the service on their doorsteps.

She said: "It’s silly you have to go all the way to London to come back again.

"We need people to come into the town, we will get the French over and people stopping here for the night before they travel."

Rodney White from Beaver Lane, Ashford feels "the quicker it comes back the better".

The 70-year-old added: "We have plenty of houses, flats and apartments, that’s why they were built here in the first place, because this was an international station, now it's all gone.

"Bringing it back can only be a good thing."

A number of residents also commented in support of Keith Hiller-Palmer's petition which launched earlier this month and has already received 5,000 signatures.

Many pointed out the economic and environmental costs of being forced to travel to London, only to travel the exact same route back on the Eurostar.

Joe Grey said: "I have no intention of using Eurostar while it requires a two-hour, 200km round trip just to pass within one kilometre of my house. It's quicker to drive."

Steve David added: "It's very non-green to have to duplicate part of the journey when facilities are in place to accommodate trains stopping en route to Europe.

"Also, the additional expense and time to travel to and from London for each leg of the journey."

Debs Earl described the situation as "another backward step".

"It's insane, frustrating, upsetting and costly to individuals and the environment not to have these services," she added.

"When travelling to Europe early we have had to not only travel up to London the evening before, but also pay for a hotel room.

"All so unnecessary if our local station was reopened."

More than 4,000 campaigners have signed an online form first started by Mr Hiller-Palmer, who said travellers had been "condemned" by the company's withdrawal from Kent.

"These include not only holidaymakers but also business people who have to meet their continental counterparts," he added.

"It is quite absurd that tourists and commuters have to go in the opposite direction just to get across the Channel.

"This comfortable journey over to mainland Europe worked well for many years only to be cruelly snatched away."

"It's insane, frustrating, upsetting and costly to individuals and the environment"

To view and sign the petition, click here.

Last week, Kent county councillors spoke of their hope that improved relations between England and France might spell the end of the "bloody ridiculous" situation.

Cllr Derek Murphy (Con) said whilst he didn't expect any change in this stance before 2025, the situation would depend on the movement of legislation and the success of lobbying efforts.

Speaking at Kent County Council's growth, economic development and communities cabinet committee on Tuesday, he said: "I've spoken before about the necessity for the county to have that international link.

"We are lobbying very intensely with the British embassy in Paris to take our cause up before us, in conjunction with our colleagues in the northern part of Calais, and in fact Brussels and Holland as well.

"It is a factor that the extra checks at St Pancras are a problem, and like I say, we are lobbying hard with the train operators but all we are getting back at the moment is we are likely to see a resumption of service in 2025.

"But a lot of that depends on European legislation, and hopefully the Rishi Sunak and Macron summit will actually pave the way for better relationships, and maybe we can make some progress on that.

"It's disappointing, but we hope to see some movement in 2025 but who knows, there could be a breakthrough next week."