They were protesting at plans to cut the allowance they receive for working in France, which they say will reduce some wages by about £500 a month.

The strike started at 6.30am on Saturday and ended at midnight later the same day. There were picket lines at Dunkirk, Calais, Coquelles and Boulogne, as well as the Channel Tunnel site near Folkestone and the Border Agency offices at Martello House, also Folkestone.

Sue Kendal from Deal is a member of the Public and Commercial Services Union's branch executive committee.

She said: "About 95 per cent of staff, about 200, were out on one of the busiest weekends of the year.

"We got our message across. We are very determined and will carry on with our dispute although we do want to talk to management."