The Port of Dover has said that it is the only way in which freight traffic can be kept moving after Brexit and plans to use other ports are a non-starter.

Port bosses insisted Dover could ensure frictionless trade next March and the costs of using other ports would be prohibitive.

The cost of trying to divert traffic to other UK ports has been calculated to be around £2.5 billion.

Tim Reardon, Head of EU Exit, Port of Dover, said: “It is clearly good news that the Government recognises the need to keep traffic flowing through Dover, not just for the port but for everyone who relies on the goods in the lorries. Trying to divert the traffic through other ports is a non-starter. The port capacity isn’t there, and a whole new fleet of ferries would be needed which simply doesn’t exist.”

There have been suggestions that other ports including Sheerness and Ramsgate could be used to solve some of the pressures that Brexit could bring next year.

But that was dismissed by Mr Reardon.

“Successful future trade with Europe must be about delivering a realistic solution. That means a free-flowing Dover, whose speed, efficiency and capacity cannot be replicated without adding significant cost to the supply chain.”

The port said it was central to the government's contingency plans to deal with the challenges in the event of there being a “no deal” Brexit.

It said it was working with the government on plans for lorry traffic to be pre-notified to customs so that vehicles do not need to be held at the port.

It also highlighted how those plans were being developed with agreement that health controls on animal and plant products from the EU would be carried out remotely, so that vehicles would not need to stop at the port.

Mr Reardon said: “We are determined that our customers can continue to rely on Dover, so that their customers can keep factories busy, shops full and prices low for consumers across the UK.”

The port’s claims come as there was fresh concern over contingency plans to manage traffic on the M20 in the event of any disruption.

Highways England confirmed that it could take up to fourteen days to implement the contraflow system along the M20 junctions 9 and 10.

However, it also said that was the maximum time and it was working on bringing down the implementation period.

Dover handles more international lorries than all other UK ports combined. Up to 110 miles of freight traffic pass through the port every day.