INDUSTRIAL action by French fisherman has forced police to close part of the M20 and ferry services between Dover and Calais have been suspended.

It is understood that the French fishermen are protesting about the areas in which they are allowed to operate, and they are currently using their trawlers in unauthorised areas in an attempt to provoke action by the French authorities.

A meeting between the fishermen and the Department of Maritime Affairs in Calais has broken up with no agreement, and it is anticipated that the blockade will continue until at least 4am tomorrow.

Due to a build-up of lorries at the Port of Dover the coastbound carriageway of the M20 has been closed between junction 11, at Hythe, and junction 12, the Cheriton turn-off at Folkestone.

A Kent Police spokesman said phase one of Operation Stack is being implemented and traffic must leave the motorway at junction 11.

Cars are being diverted onto the A20 but heavy goods vehicles will be allowed back onto the carriageway, where they can park between the junctions and await access to the Port of Dover.

Traffic congestion can be expected in the area.

Geoff Dossetter of the Freight Transport Association said his members were angry. "Here we go again - on a very busy Thursday at the very busiest time of the year, the international haulage industry as well as large numbers of Christmas shoppers have been severely disrupted by the actions of militant French fishermen.

"As ever, we remain angry and frustrated that these people can get away with this wildcat action. The combination of Operation Stack and suspended sailings is a dead loss cost to those whose journey has been delayed. It is like having rows of £10 notes being lined up on the roadside.

"Previous experience suggests that the closure of Calais for a day imposes a cost of around £1 million on the transport industry."