The government has announced that a huge wall will be built at Calais in the latest effort to curb migrants from trying to cross the channel by jumping on lorries.

The news comes just days after the port was blockaded by French hauliers, businesses, farmers and union leaders in a protest over the migrant camp in the town.

Immigration minister Robert Goodwill revealed the plan to MPs on the Home Affairs select committee.

“People are still getting through. We have done the fences. Now we are doing the wall," he said.

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.

Mr Goodwill said: “We are going to start building this big, new wall as part of the £17m package we are doing with the French. There is still more to do. We have also invested in space for 200 lorries at Calais so that they have somewhere safe to wait.”

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.

The French interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve has pledged to dismantle the migrant camp but has set no timetable for doing so.