Operation Brock will remain in place for "at least another week" to manage freight traffic.

The Kent Resilience Forum (KRF) partnership has confirmed lorries heading to Dover will have to continue to queue on one side of the M20.

The traffic controls will remain in place "as a precaution" to manage the flow of lorries to the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel.

This is while cross-Channel ferry capacity remains reduced.

While one P&O ferry has now returned to service, no date has been set for all P&O sailings resuming out of Dover.

The Spirit of Britain - the ferry firm's only ship currently authorised to sail from the town - left the port today at 4pm while another ship, The Pride of Kent failed a reinspection earlier.

This afternoon's crossing will be the first time the ship has carried passengers since March 17, when the company sacked nearly 800 seafarers with no prior warning.

Agency staff, being paid cheaper wages, were hired to replace the workers in a shock move condemned by the public, government and trade unions.

KRF strategic planning lead, Simon Jones, said: "We are very aware of the impact the M20 contraflow has on local residents and so once again I can assure everyone this decision was not taken lightly.

"But with the continuing limited ferry capacity at Dover, we need to retain the option to quickly step up the control of freight flow on cross-Channel routes and not risk leaving Kent exposed to possible significant disruption.

"My thanks to residents, businesses and drivers for their continued patience as we maintain a watching brief on the situation.

"We will review our traffic management options again in a week’s time."

KRF leaders again pledged the use of the M20 traffic management scheme "will remain under regular review", with the next re-assessment set for on, or around, next Tuesday.

"My thanks to residents, businesses and drivers for their continued patience as we maintain a watching brief on the situation..."

National Highways regional director Nicola Bell said: "Keeping Brock in place ensures we can continue to quickly respond if we need to increase the control of EU-bound freight traffic on the M20 while ferry capacity at Dover remains limited.

"The contraflow barrier can be moved overnight but the impact of taking it down and putting it back in the event of any major gridlock would be more disruptive than keeping the current arrangements in place.

"Our priorities remain to help people complete their journeys and allow local communities and businesses to go about their daily business with minimal disruption. We will continue to keep the use of Operation Brock under regular review."