P&O Ferries claims the blockade of French ports by fishermen is costing it £1million every day.

The ferry operator should be running 34 return sailings a day between Dover and Calais - but it is unable to run any at all at present.

Brian Rees, spokesman for P&O Ferries, said this protest has a different, more co-ordinated feel about it than previous industrial action, with Calais, Boulogne and Dunkirk all blocked by fishermen angry about EU cod quotas.

Mr Rees added that the fishermen feel like they have "nothing to lose".

~ Audio: P&O spokesman Brian Rees talks to kmfm's Jo Sword about the French port blockade >>>

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P&O says it has spoken to the Foreign Office to alert it to the seriousness of the situation.

Mr Rees said: "We are preparing a case for compensation. We should be running 34 return crossings a day - that is £1million a day business."

The Pride of Calais is the only ship P&O currently have in Calais and the operator is preparing to use it as a food station for passengers if the situation persists.

Around 5,000 people were stuck at the French port on Tuesday night, although that backlog was cleared by 2am Wednesday.