Bosses at P&O Ferries are considering using Ostend to beat any future action by French fishermen at Calais.

The Pride of Dover ferry sailed to Belgium on Thursday morning for berthing trials to find out whether it would fit at the port.

P&O spokesman Brian Rees said the company was fed up with the disruption caused by the fishermen at Calais.

~ Audio: Brian Rees talks to kmfm about P&O's berthing trials at Ostend >>>

He said: "There's no law saying we only have to use Calais. We don't know if the Pride of Dover and her sister ship the Pride of Calais will fit there, and there is only one way to find out.

"So we sent the ferry to Ostend for berthing trials."

Mr Rees said the company's patience was running out, having to cope with the disruption "time and time again".

But he said P&O would not consider switching from Calais to Ostend permanently.

The move comes after two days of blockades by the French fishermen at Calais, Boulogne and Dunkirk in a protest over EU fishing quotas.

Hundreds of freight vehicles have been waiting to cross the Channel, and holiday makers and day-trippers have also been delayed.

The blockades at Calais and Dunkirk were lifted during the night, and P&O operated ships every half hour throughout the night to help clear the backlog.

It is understood that the fishermen have now called off their action.

Meanwhile, P&O Ferries are preparing a claim for compensation for the latest dispute. They say the industrial action has cost them around £1million in lost business every day.

The LD Lines ferry Cote d'Albatre sailed to Dieppe on Thursday instead of Boulogne, but is returning to its normal Boulogne schedule on Friday.