Dover’s main ferry companies and the Harbour Board have welcomed plans to close The Jungle migrant camp at Calais.

P&O Ferries, DFDS Seaways and the Port of Dover said that everyone has the right to travel through the French port safely.

Lorry drivers in particulary are facing constant threats and attacks as migrants try to break into their vehicles to smuggle themselves into th UK.

The three companies said today in a joint statement:
“We unequivocally welcome the announcement by the French government that the migrant camp in Calais known as ‘the jungle’ will be closed.

“The priority now is to ensure that the camp is closed as quickly, efficiently and humanely as possible with the inhabitants relocated to alternative accommodation away from major international ports.

“Everyone who travels through the Port of Calais has a right to a fluid, safe and secure journey, ensuring people and goods keep moving.

“ We will continue to work closely with the French government to ensure that the Channel ports remain open for business and that the current situation is not allowed to recur.

“This is something which is in the vital interests of millions of tourists, hundreds of thousands of importers and exporters, and the national economies of Britain and France.”

France’s interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve has vowed to dismantle the camp “as quickly as possible” but has not set a timetable for this.

The Jungle’s population is estimated to have now swelled to 9,000 now.

On Monday French hauliers, business people, farmers and union leaders blockaded the port in protest at the presence of the camp and violence, threats and disruption from a number of its inhabitants.

Yesterday the British government announced that a huge wall will be built at Calais to stop migrants breaking into trucks to smuggle themselves into the UK.

Immigration Minister Robert Goodwill revealed the plans to MPs on the Home Affairs Select Committee.

The 4 metre concrete wall, stretching at least 1km, will cost £1.9m and will be built along both sides of the dual carriageway to the port and will be constructed in a way that makes it difficult to climb.

Security fencing around the port at Coquelles was strengthened earlier this year and has dramatically reduced the number of migrants trying to get on to lorries and cars.

However, the problem has shifted to further away from the port with organised gangs trying to get migrants on to vehicles by blocking roads and threatening drivers.