Drivers are facing a fifth day of severe disruption on Kent's roads as cross-Channel delays continue – and there is potentially more misery ahead for anyone who had booked to travel with P&O.

Reduced ferry services caused by the P&O saga, coupled with increased demand from people on Easter holidays, not to mention yesterday's broken down train in the Channel Tunnel, has resulted in frustrating waits for passengers.

This morning, there were delays of up to two hours on DFDS Seaways between Dover and Calais and Dover and Dunkerque. As of 1pm, the waits had reduced to about an hour and a half on the Calais route and an hour for Dunkerque.

This afternoon, there are waits of two hours for freight using Eurotunnel at Folkestone and the M20 has now been closed between junction eight and nine.

P&O Ferries' services between Dover and Calais remain suspended, after the company's controversial sacking of 800 staff on March 17.

And DFDS has today tweeted to say it has no availability this coming weekend for P&O customers who had been advised to use its services.

It said: "DFDS has no availability for P&O customers between 08 April 00:01 and 10 April 23:59. Please do not proceed to port without a confirmed reservation, contact P&O Ferries for alternative travel arrangements."

Hundreds of lorries remain caught up in Operation Brock on the M20 between Junctions 8 and 9.

And Dover TAP is in place on the A20 from the Roundhill Tunnel – which was closed this morning but reopened after about an hour – to help manage the traffic heading to Dover, where HGVs are queuing in the left-hand lane.

Meanwhile, EasyJet flights have been cancelled at Gatwick Airport due to crew shortages.

In Dover, traders say their businesses have been hit by the gridlock which ruined their weekends.

Yesterday, Dover MP Natalie Elphicke, Kent County Council leader Cllr Roger Gough and Dover District Council leader Cllr Trevor Bartlett held an emergency meeting with Baroness Vere, the roads minister, in Parliament, to discuss the problems.

“Traffic problems and lack of road resilience is not simply a problem for Dover, it is affecting growth and mobility right across the county of Kent."

She committed to reviewing Dover TAP and the Kent-wide response following the chaos.

Ms Elphicke said: “Once again the events of the last few days have highlighted the need for more road capacity and better traffic management for Dover.

"It is welcome that the Minister has agreed to review the operational performance of these emergency measures given their severe impact on local residents.

“This was an important urgent meeting with the Roads Minister about keeping Dover clear and the importance of investment for our local roads.”

Cllr Gough said: “Traffic problems and lack of road resilience is not simply a problem for Dover, it is affecting growth and mobility right across the county of Kent.

"It’s high time it is addressed – the trade corridor through Kent is of vital strategic importance to the country as a whole.

“Kent County Council have set out the need for road resilience and additional traffic management powers. It is vital that this is now taken forward.”

Cllr Trevor Bartlett, leader of Dover District Council, said: “Once again residents of Dover were unable to get out of their homes to get to medical appointments or to work.

"Local shops also lost trade over the weekend.

“That’s a disgrace. The Port is an important part of our area but is not the only business in it. We need to see greater priority given to our residents and our community as a whole.”