An online petition set up to urge the Prime Minister to abandon Operation Stack has attracted almost 25,000 signatures.

Going live shortly before midnight on July 12, it saw more than 1,000 people within just 12 hours.

And a separate petition set up by the Road Haulage Association on July 31 has also reached the same target.

The RHA’s Chief Executive, Richard Burnett, is asking everyone in the UK to sign up to his association's petition.

He is calling on the French to deploy their military to restore law and order.

Mr Burnett said: “The effects of the current migrant crisis at the Port of Calais are having an intolerable effect on the UK and its haulage industry.

"For those who have no alternative but to travel through Calais, the threat of violence and harassment from migrants intent on reaching the UK is unacceptable.”

Operation Stack has caused more than 5,000 trucks to be parked up while waiting to cross the Channel.

Many trucks are having to wait for an average of 18 hours before being able to cross.

Mr Burnett added: “The cost to the haulage industry alone is massive and the corresponding problems caused to the people of Kent have become untenable.

“Lives are at risk as healthcare workers are unable to visit the sick and many retailers are facing unsustainable losses as a result of failed or late deliveries or stock shortages" - Richard Burnett

"Businesses are suffering and the county has already become gridlocked from traffic that has been diverted from the M20.

“Lives are at risk as healthcare workers are unable to visit the sick and many retailers are facing unsustainable losses as a result of failed or late deliveries or stock shortages.”

The blurb on the first petition, on the website change.org, states: "Stop Operation Stack. The effect this has on the people of Kent has become unbearable.

"Towns and villages along the M20 route grind to a halt with 20 minute journeys taken up to 3 hours!! Enough is enough!!"

Victoria Coates, from Maidstone, said she had concerns about the impact on emergency services, with ambulance response times potentially being affected by traffic and the strain on the police of overseeing Operation Stack.

She wrote when the petition was first set up: "I also believe that the local businesses are being negatively affected by the persistent use of operation stack meaning that the local economy will suffer. There are also the environmental impacts to consider.

"Operation Stack gridlocks a wide area of Kent's key roads. There must be a better solution that does not involve disrupting the lives of local people in this fashion."

To view the Stop Operation Stack petition, click here.

To view the Road Haulage Association petition, click here.