Access to the French Eurotunnel passenger terminal is now open - hours after it was blocked by union activists who set fire to tyres on the motorway in Calais.

Members of the Maritime Nord union blocked entry to the terminal until this afternoon.

The protest ended at lunchtime, but the carriageway remained closed while repairs were carried out.

Travellers were urged to reschedule their journeys, and to expect long delays on the A16 on the French side.

The disruption also caused a waiting time of up to one hour to freight Eurotunnel services at Folkestone due to a high volume of traffic, and delays of 30 minutes on P&O ferry services.

It's believed the protesters may be planning another dispute this afternoon.

Earlier reports that there was also a ferry fire in Calais have since been denied.

The news comes as ferry firm DFDS Seaways announced it has resumed sailings from Dover to Calais.

Crossings have been disrupted for more than three weeks after a strike by ferry workers unhappy with planned job losses from their takeover of My Ferry Link.

Their first sailing left Dover at 10.15am.