A proposal for the former Manston airport to be used as an emergency lorry park has been described as 'insane and idiotic' by an MP.

North Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale hit out at the idea, which was floated this week by the leader of Kent County Cllr Paul Carter and also by the Folkestone and Hythe MP Damian Collins.

The owners of Manston airport responded by saying they were prepared to use the site as an emergency lorry park when Operation Stack is implemented if asked.

Sir Roger poured cold water on the suggestion.

"Manston Airport is in completely wrong location, too far from Dover, further still from the Channel Tunnel and off the wrong motorway system. Added to which the roads approaching Manston Airport are not suited to an influx of hundreds of articulated trucks."

He went on: "Once again Carter appears to be trying to promote his “anything but an airport” doctrine at the expense of the wishes and needs of the people of East Kent. The idea is idiotic and it is dead in the water.”

The idea also drew short shrift from South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay, who described it as "simply crackpot."

In a statement, the spokesman for the owners of Manston, Ray Mallon said:

“Clearly urgent action is needed to alleviate the problem and it is incumbent upon all who can offer emergency relief, to do so. If Stone Hill Park is approached by national Government or by Kent Police to assist in dealing with the problem then we will do so in any way we can, as the circumstances before us are exceptional indeed.”

He went on: “The strike action in Calais is having a very serious affect on the local economy, with the gridlock of traffic on the M20 and surrounding roads of particular concern. The daily cost of the strike action to the Uk economy as a whole is an estimated £250m.”

“In addition, we must not lose sight of the hardship being faced by thousands of truck drivers who are having to spend up to 26 hours in their stationary vehicles and the extra demands on local police resources that this whole situation has caused.”

He cautioned that issues around access needed consideration and that Thanet council would also need to be in agreement.

“Obviously there are a number of issues that would need to be addressed before any heavy goods vehicles could park on the Stone Hill Park site, not least having the full agreement of Thanet council and ensuring that disruption to local people is kept to a minimum. There would also need to be the necessary facilities for drivers as well as ensuring the safe passage of vehicles from the M20. "