In a brief moment when the phone stops ringing with frustrated clients, Maggie Nicholls holds her head in her hands.

“We are having to turn down business,” said the director at family haulage firm Nicholls Transport, based in Sittingbourne, which has about half of its 60-vehicle fleet affected by Operation Stack.

“We are losing money and are late for deliveries. We let customers down and it severely hampers our business on the continent.

“We have trailers stuck in France which we need over here and vice versa. Drivers are losing out on driving time. It’s horrendous.”

Her story is similar to many companies affected by the continuing disruption caused by Operation Stack.

Lorries have been parking on the M20 – in queues around Folkestone and a second phase stretching back from Ashford to Junction 5 – since a fire closed the Channel Tunnel at the weekend.

The disruption has caused travel chaos on Kent’s roads, with the huge delays to continue into the weekend costing Kent’s economy millions.

Bill Fox, Kent and Medway regional chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “Operation Stack continues to cost Kent businesses vast amounts of time, money and lost opportunity.

“When will action be taken? It may only be three or four times a year this happens but it costs small businesses and the local economy millions of pounds.”

One company suffering is frozen fruit and vegetable producer Ardo UK.

Based just off the A20 in Charing, between Maidstone and Ashford, much of the M20 traffic is diverted past their premises.

The business can handle about 13,500 lorries a month and is dealing with huge disruption to its supply chain as lorries are unable to drop off and pick up the 35,000 pallets which pass through it every four weeks.

Director Jon Barnes said: “We don’t hold all our products weeks in advance so if we cannot get pallets in, there is a delay in production.

“Then we have to short change our retailers on their next delivery. It’s a nightmare for us.

“When retailers are deciding who to renew contracts with, they throw Operation Stack at us. In this industry, you are only as good as your last delivery and if that was hours late because of Operation Stack, we are remembered for that.

“Our clients have to factor in the cost of Operation Stack when they look at us. That makes us less attractive. They might decide to walk away.”

It is not just logistics industries affected.

Fewer shoppers can get to Ashford Designer Outlet. It has been a quiet few days for visitors at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, although staff insist it is not damaging business yet.

Communications manager Carole Thomas said: “It would be detrimental if it was February half term but because we are out of season it is not too bad.

“If it were to continue to the weekend it may cause some problems.”

Proposals for a large lorry park to take away the need for Operation Stack have been put forward and quashed numerous times.

Kent Country Council revealed in September it is discussing building three lorry parks – one in Westenhanger at Junction 11 of the M20, with further parks in Ashford and Dover to follow.

Sorting out Operation Stack has become a priority of the Kent and Medway Economic Partnership, a body which appeals to government for money for major infrastructure projects under the South East Local Enterprise Partnership.

Kent Invicta Chamber chief executive Jo James, who sits on the partnership’s board, said: “We know in the past the cost has run up to millions. We know it’s a big financial drain. There is no getting away from that.

“Businesses are not able to move around and cannot service customers or get in deliveries. It is bad for business and it is something we need a solution to.

“But we need to stop talking about finding a solution and act on a solution. It is one of the key transport priorities for the Kent and Medway Economic Partnership. We are looking at funding to address this once and for all.”

Emma Liddiard, chair of the Kent branch of the Institute of Directors, said: “Clearly Operation Stack makes it difficult for Kent residents and businesses to go about their normal tasks.

“A solution needs to be found to help alleviate the problems caused by Operation Stack.

“At the same time though, we don’t want people to think Kent is closed for business. We would always be supportive in finding a solutions to the problem as we are the gateway to Europe.”

Mrs James added: “We need to stop this because Kent is open for business and Operation Stack does not give out that message.

“Over the next five to 10 years, Eurotunnel and the Kent ports are expecting to have significant growth in traffic.

“We need a solution and we need it now.”