The Mayor of Calais says she wants to forge a new economic partnership with Kent and says the migrant camp should not drive a wedge between France and the UK.

Talking on a visit to Kent today, she said she wanted a return to a positive relationship and played down the impact of the migrant camp.

She said resolving the issue of the jungle camp was a matter for the two governments to decide and insisted the town was safe.

In what amounted to a charm offensive, she sought to reassure businesses that the region and Kent could still work together after the Brexit vote.

She also hinted that she could join the blockade planned for Monday, saying she understood the frustrations of French hauliers and businesses that were affected by the camp.

VIDEO: The Mayor of Calais has been on a visit to Kent for talks.

"The answer is yes. We will be on the field, we will go and greet and say hello to law and order forces. We will also say hello to the hauliers and the haulage companies to show our solidarity with their movement and also show to the French government that this is enough.

But her main message was that there was nothing to stop trading ties between the UK and France being maintained.

There have been growing tensions and reports that hauliers are experiencing escalating violence and threats as they pass through the port.

At a reception in Ashford, she said: “The reason I came here today is to send a very strong message to our friends that our city is secure, it is safe and we would not like this migratory crisis to affect our will to make sure we keep the friendship between the two territories.”

“The reason I came here today is to send a very strong message to our friends that our city is secure, it is safe..." - Mayor of Calais

There had been a “golden age” during the era of duty free products “when our relationships were even stronger” she added.

“We want to go back to this particular era and want to make sure we are both prosperous. I am here to let you know we are in control of the situation."

There was potential for new partnerships, she told a group of council chiefs and local businesses.

"We are holding out the hand of friendship to our UK neighbours. It is important for us that whatever the aftermath and the problems that may arise with the emergence of Brexit, we need to keep working together to develop our economies.”

Mme Bouchart also sought to resurrect the idea of a Transmanche metro service between Calais and Dover - a scheme that has been discussed for many years.

Writing in the KM Group’s newspaper titles in July Natacha Bouchart welcomed the new Prime Minister Theresa May and reminded her of the two regions’ “unbreakable” bond.

She described Calais as the natural gateway between France and Britain and proclaimed “tourists, businessmen, traders, institutions, politicians, I mean ‘you’re welcome’.”

Her charm offensive may fail to win over sceptics - especially as the visit comes before a planned blockade of Calais on Monday by French hauliers and businesses who want the migrant camp removed.