The nightmare of this weekend's traffic disruption at Dover is over.

Kent Police says that levels of vehicles coming in are "business as usual" for large volumes of holidaymakers during the summer getaway period.

Road users were now experiencing delays of around half an hour on the A20, officers announced just after 4pm today.

VIDEO: Drivers have faced long delays in the town all weekend.

This compared with horrendous holdups of as long as 12 hours on Saturday.

And the northbound A20, which had been temporarily closed between Dover and the Junction 11 Stanford area, is now fully reopened.

Kent Police spokesman James Walker said: "The disruption for traffic heading to Dover has now reached a business as usual state for expected traffic travelling towards Europe for the holiday season.

Road users are currently experiencing delays of around half an hour on the A20.

"A large volume of holiday traffic is anticipated over the next few days with holidaymakers making their way to Europe. This, together with heightened security checks by the French authorities could however means some delays over the next few weeks."

Police still advise motorists setting out to take plenty of food and water and to check with travel operators before making their trips.

Anyone with a severe medical problem should call 999 for an emergency and 111 if it is not urgent.

Police warn people to drink regularly, wear sunscreen and keep vehicles well venitlated.

Drivers should also make sure their cars have enough fuel.

Dover's gridlock nightmare began late on Friday night with about 250,000 drivers thought to have been caught up in tailbacks.

Motorists and their families had to spend the night in their cars and were left with no food and water until volunteers and agencies came forward with supplies.

Temporary toilets were put in place along the A20, between the port and the Roundhill tunnels at Folkestone.

Highways England this morning said the delays were down to French border police who continue to follow French government requirements to carry out heightened security following the massacre in Nice.

Spokeswoman Angie Elliott-Dickson said delays had eased overnight but volumes were expected to increase later in the day. Warnings had been issued on electronic message boards as far north as the Midlands, she added.

She dismissed suggestions that the agency had not been prepared for the volume of traffic: "We knew it was going to be a busy period and we prepared this year more than any other. What was unforeseen were the terrible events in Nice which have changed the situation we are dealing with."

She added: "There will still be lessons learned. We will be doing everything we can to minimise these delays, working with our partners."

All traffic is being advised to use the M20/A20 as the A2 is at a standstill into Dover.

Highways England said it is “working hard” with Kent Police, Kent County Council and the Port of Dover to “do all they can for road users”.

A police helicopter was drafted in to help deliver water to people who have been stranded.

Many drivers have aired their anger on social media.

Fiona Hotston Moore tweeted: “Six hours in a queue and the French customs did not even bother to look at our passports!”

Nadine Hudson tweeted: “Our ferry left half an hour ago and we’re still nowhere near the front of the queue. Crazy.”

JStar tweeted the Port of Dover’s traffic account to say: “5 Hours - 10 Hours Delay #PortofDover & nearly 2 Hours in the Port !! Tell it like it is !!!!”

Londoner Shareen Barnett and her friends had been left at a standstill on the road for nine hours when they spoke to Kent Online late this morning.

She said:”“We were supposed to be going to Dover to go to France for the weekend on the ferry. We left about 12.30am and we have been stuck on the M20 since 1.30am.

“It was my friend’s birthday yesterday so we thought we would go to France and have a good time and a day out but it’s obviously not gone to plan.

“It’s been so hot out here even overnight. We haven’t got any food, no drink, no water, no toilet.

“We haven’t heard anything at all and that’s made us quite upset. Our trip to France has gone out of the window and I just want to get out of this and go home.”

Drivers were advised to consider using the M20 and local traffic is advised to consider other routes such as the B2011, A256 or A258, which may not be suitable for HGVs.

Meanwhile, Kent County Council re-opened Alkham Valley Road in Dover at about 11.30am, the road having been closed since 6.30am.

It had been due to close all day today for residents and emergency vehicles to allow unrestricted access for emergency services and essential vehicles to provide welfare to traffic stuck on the A20.

For further information, please contact your travel operator, visithttp://www.highways.gov.uk/traffic-information or follow @HighwaysSEAST on Twitter. The Port of Dover is also providing travel updates via @POD_travelnews.