There are still huge delays on the approach to Kent’s busiest port on the first day of the half-term getaway.

There are have been processing waits of up to two hours at Dover for holidaymakers headed to France throughout the day.

However, frustrated motorists stuck in gridlock queues in the town have been reporting far longer waits overall, with some waiting up to seven hours leading to the port.

One X user said: “This is chaos! Appreciate it’s a bank holiday and we’ve left Europe but come on Port of Dover, this is crazy!!!

“We got to Dover at 8am and we’ve crawled along ever since. Three-and-a-half hours later and we are still not through passport control.

“What are you going to do to change this?”

The situation was not much better come 8pm with one frustrated motorist saying: “I’ve travelled 40 metres in 1.5 hours.

“It has taken 7 hours to do a two hour journey and I’m still not there.”

Another added: “We are stuck in traffic and have been for 8 hours now stuck in the queue for passport control.

“There is zero communication from anyone and no logic at all in the queue system. The same lines always moving while we are stationary for over and hour and a half.”

Operation TAP has been implemented, which queues port-bound lorries in the left lane of the A20 to prevent jams in the town itself.

As part of that, the A20 has been closed coastbound between the M20 and A260 to prevent cars queuing within the Roundhill Tunnel.

A diversion is in place via the M20 J13, A259, A260 and A20.

Ferry operator DFDS posted on X to say: “We are expecting a busy upcoming weekend.

“We highly recommend all customers have a confirmed reservation before arriving at Port.

“Please allow 120 minutes to complete border and check-in controls on arrival.”

A spokesman for the Port of Dover said: “We are experiencing high levels of traffic today and are working hard with Police aux Frontières to clear the queues at the French border as quickly as possible.

“Thank you to the local community, residents and businesses for your patience as we try to keep traffic moving.”

A number of residents have reported gridlock in Dover itself.

One responded to the post on X, saying: “Nice of you to thank the local community for our patience, but you don't give us much of a chance to do anything else!

“How about compensation for the local community for having no choice but to lose out?”

Another said: “Not like the local community has any choice!

“People are stuck at home! Trucks are everywhere, can't go anywhere! We shouldn't have to put up with this!!”

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Someone else reported that people were unable to leave their homes as their driveways were blocked by queuing traffic.

When approached for an update this evening, a spokesperson for the Port of Dover told KentOnline shortly before 6pm: “The port are working hard with PAF (French port authorities) to clear queuing traffic.

“Dwell times in the port sit at 2hrs at the moment whilst we clear the backlog.

“We believe the dwell time will remain as is for a couple of hours, but it will reduce after that.

“Traffic levels are busy tomorrow too, but not as high a numbers as today.

“We are working in partnership with local authorities and have traffic management in place. “

P&O posted on X this evening: “We have put on another additional crossing to help transport those passengers stuck at border control.

“Once you are through the queues you will be on the next crossing to Calais. We sincerely apologise for the wait times this evening.”