It is hoped the travel ban into France will be lifted next week.

Currently, only essential travellers are allowed into France from the UK. This came into force before Christmas in a bid to stopping the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

Chris Parker from DFDS speaks about the relaxation of travel rules

It left some families unable to spend the festive period together.

But with new travel rules being introduced this weekend - with PCR tests no longer needed to enter the UK, Chris Parker from ferry company DFDS hopes it could also lead to a relaxation on the travel ban.

Mr Parker, director of capacity and commercial performance at the firm said, said: "Unfortunately at the moment it is not easy for UK nationals to travel to France.

"We are very optimistic that those rules will change next week.

"We heard from the French government spokesman on Wednesday that that are looking at those rules again.

"Unfortunately Omicron is very prevalent in France now, as well as in UK. So I do expect a relaxation in those restrictions.

"That will be the big trigger for travel from Dover, because at the moment it is still very difficult."

The new rules mean that travellers heading to England will no longer be required to take a pre-departure Covid test before they set off.

This is a return to the travel rules in place before the arrival of the Omicron variant.

The change, which will make travel easier and cheaper, will apply to fully vaccinated adults and under 18s and came into force from 4am this morning.

Also among the changes for holidaymakers in the coming days is the move to now accept a lateral flow test instead of a PCR for fully vaccinated travellers and over 5s, who are testing themselves to ensure they remain clear of Covid before or on their second day in England.

Up until now those coming back into the country were required to pre-book and pay for PCR tests to identify whether they had carried any infection back into the country.

But from 4am on Sunday (January 9), children aged over five and adults who are fully vaccinated will now be able to take and register the results of a rapid test instead.

Lateral flow tests for international travel must be purchased from a private provider as NHS Test and Trace lateral flow tests cannot be used.

This morning at 4.05am, a DFDS crossing from Calais into Dover was the first into the UK carrying passengers who did not need to take a PCR test before they arrive.

Filip Hermann, vice president and head of Channel routes for DFDS, said: "DFDS welcomes the new updated changes to testing requirements for travellers on arrival in England.

"This is obviously a cost saving for families and we expect to see a surge in demand for short breaks over February half-term.

"Obviously we see this as a start to a return to normal travel for our passengers, accelerating the process of lifting restrictions and testing requirements.

Travel companies have also been used to check Passenger Locator Forms since they were introduced in response to the pandemic and DFDS is joining fellow travel operators in calling for reform of the process.

Mr Hermann said: "The administrative burden of the Passenger Locator Forms alongside the return of passenger demand to pre-pandemic levels is going to lead to issues within ports and we would like to see changes to this before Easter."