MP Charlie Elphicke has demanded that port, road government officials “get a grip” following the delays fiasco at Dover.

The Dover and Deal MP said that responsible authorities in England should have been prepared for delays for passengers coming into Dover, which have seen motorists stuck for eight hours, because of heightened French security after last week’s massacre in Nice.

He believes the situation was drastic enough to bring in the controversial Operation Stack.

But he also criticised French authorities as their border controls had been completely undermanned last night.

He said: "What we now need to see is Highways England, the Port of Dover and Government ministries get a grip on this situation, because people are suffering out there in massive tailbacks and it’s just not acceptable.”

The MP told Kent Online today: “The situation we have on the A20 and the A2 is completely unacceptable. Everyone knew that following Nice the French authorities would be having heightened border checks.

“They could have planned for it, but Highways England and the Port of Dover have not planned for it adequately and what we see are the problems on our roads.”

Mr Elphicke said he was also concerned on the effect of traffic in the town of Dover. Parts of the centre of the town, including the arterial Maison Dieu Road, were also clogged up.

He said it was “completely unacceptable” as the Port of Dover Community Regatta and Dover Music Festival are on today.

He said: "It’s impossible for people to get to Dover because the town is cut off. That’s why this matter needs urgent attention and we need to be planning better.

“Highways England are not fit for purpose and I have been pressing the Transport Secretary today to take action to ensure that order is restored quickly to our roads.

“And I have raised it with the Home Office and Home Secretary to make sure that strongest representations possible are made to the French on the matter of border control.

“Apparently only half, or less than half, of the booths on the French juxtapose controls were in use overnight. They then had a period when they were completely free flowing so that a lot of traffic was able to get through and I understand the booths are back under control again but not all are open."

The Port of Dover had this morning revealed that only three out of seven booths were open at French border controls. At one stage only one French officer was available to check passengers on hundreds of coaches.

Mr Elphicke said: “My biggest concern is that we now have tailbacks of hours and hours with families trying to get away for the summer break.

“We have young children who are running out of water who don’t have adequate toilet facilities. It was all completely avoidable.

“What we should have seen is Highways England and the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel, to a lesser extent, know that this situation was coming up and plan for it.

“We should have had an Operation Stack in place today on the M20. We should have seen the Department for Transport far more on the ball, and we should have seen the Home Office planning ahead and making representations to the French Government about the border control situation in this getaway weekend.“

Meanwhile Kent Police say they closed one of the two lanes on the northbound A20 so bottles of water, provided by Kent County Council, could be distributed by Coastguard volunteers.

Police spokesman James Walker said: “To ensure water is distributed to motorists, officers from Kent Police are assisting Highways England by enforcing a partial lane closure of the northbound A20."

This will see lane one remain open with lane two used to distribute water to those on the Dover-bound carriageway.

The disruption has been caused by a vast volume of holiday traffic and delays caused by increased security at the French border.

Motorists have been trapped for around eight hours when they delays were at their worst.

Those travelling are advised to take plenty of food and water and to check with travel operators before making their trips. If possible, consider making alternative arrangements.