The army says it won't be sending troops in to police the UK's borders in response to the Calais migrants crisis.

A police crime commissioner yesterday said that Gurkha soldiers based in Folkestone should be used to help keep the UK borders safe.

But the Ministry of Defence (MoD) says it is not a military matter.

Kevin Hurley, the Surrey police and crime commissioner, said soldiers based at Shorncliffe barracks could help with the efforts to contain the Calais-based migrants who were trying to reach the UK.

But an MoD spokesman told KentOnline: "The policing of the UK's borders is a matter for the border force and the home office."

Mr Hurley's intervention came as the Home Secretary Theresa May said she had asked Kent County Council, Kent Police and other agencies to urgently review Operation Stack.

And Kent Police warned that Operation Stack was likely to continue into the weekend.

Mr Hurley said: “I am increasingly frustrated by the huge numbers of illegal migrants who jump out of the backs of lorries at the first truck stop - Cobham Services in Surrey - and disappear into our countryside. There were 100 in the last month alone.”

"The Gurkhas are a highly respected and competent force, and are just around the corner. They could help to ensure that our border is not breached." Keith Hurley, Surrey police crime and commissioner

“The Gurkhas are a highly respected and competent force, and are just around the corner. They could help to ensure that our border is not breached.”

He went on: “Of course, I realise that the root cause of this tragic migration is the appalling environments these people leave behind.

"They take enormous risks because they can see no other alternative. But, while the UK and French governments decide their next prevention strategy we, the British police, have to deal with the immediate problem.”

In other developments on the crisis in Calais the Prime Minister expressed sympathy for holidaymakers.

Ukip leader Nigel Farage said the army should be brought in and revealed that he had experienced at first hand the efforts of migrants to breach Calais security.

In an interview with radio station LBC, he was asked if there was a case for the army to become involved.

He replied: “Yes, I do in all civil emergencies like this we have an army and we still have a bit of a Territorial Army and we have an overburdened police force and Border Agency, who are always telling me they don’t have enough resources, so yes.

"If in a crisis, to make sure we have the manpower to check lorries coming in and stop people coming in illegally, why not?”

Meanwhile, acting Labour leader Harriet Harman accused the government of failing to heed warnings about the situation at Calais.

“This is not just a problem in Calais now, it is a major problem in Kent as well.

"As long ago as nine months ago we were pressing the government that they needed to get on to this and sort this out and in fact I raised this with the Prime Minister in the House of Commons earlier last month.”

She added: “The government have failed to get it sorted out and as a result people who have worked all year for their holidays are now stuck in traffic jams without information and it is having a big economic impact on the road haulage industry too.”