The Port of Dover has reported record volumes of traffic passing through following last month's fire in the Channel Tunnel.

In the second full week following the fire on September 11, 2,683 coaches passed through the port, a 63 per cent increase on the week before the blaze.

The number of lorries was also up by 30 per cent during the same period, to 53,789.

Bob Goldfield, chief executive, Port of Dover said: “In addition to this solid increase in freight, we are now moving into the annual pre-Christmas surge of coach crossings on shopping excursions and to continental Christmas markets.

“Our operation is running smoothly to keep the UK’s economic supply chain unbroken and to keep leisure travel on track.”