Motorists had to endure another day of chaos on Kent's roads as cross-Channel delays continue.

Part of the M20 was closed between Maidstone and Ashford, while several other roads were held up while police prevented lorries from jumping the queue.

The motorway was shut to coastbound non-freight vehicles at Junction 8, where the Operation Brock contraflow begins. It eventually reopened at 3am on Wednesday.

Vehicles and freight that was not crossing the channel was diverted from M20 J8 via the A20 to re-join the M20 at J9 for Ashford.

Traffic backed up beyond Junction 7 for Maidstone, with cars stationary on the carriageway.

The delays were so severe that HGV drivers were asked to use truck stop facilities before joining the queues.

A tweet from National Highways said: "Call out to all HGV drivers – as congestion continues tonight on the M20 please be prepared for delays and be sure to use truck stop facilities ahead of joining the queues for Dover".

Traffic maps showed major disruption to traffic on the M2 coastbound between Junctins 4 and 7, as well as the A249 which connects it with the M20.

At the peak of the chaos, there were roughly nine miles of tailbacks on the motorway, while police check lorries to prevent them from bypassing the holding areas – but delays subsided during the evening.

Similarly, the A2 Jubilee Way was shut coastbound between the St Margaret's At Cliffe / Deal Roundabout to the Eastern Docks Roundabout, while officers made sure no HGVs were allowed to skip the queue.

Dover's A2 Jubilee Way was shut in both directions due to weight of traffic attempting to enter the town.

Reduced ferry services caused by the P&O saga, coupled with increased demand from people on Easter holidays, not to mention yesterday's broken down train in the Channel Tunnel, has resulted in frustrating waits for passengers.

This morning, there were delays of up to two hours on DFDS Seaways between Dover and Calais and Dover and Dunkerque. As of 3.30pm, the waits had reduced to about an hour and a half on the Calais route and an hour for Dunkerque.

During the afternoon, there were waits of two hours for freight using Eurotunnel at Folkestone.

P&O Ferries' services between Dover and Calais remain suspended, after the company's controversial sacking of 800 staff on March 17.

And DFDS tweeted to say it has no availability this coming weekend for P&O customers who had been advised to use its services.

It said: "DFDS has no availability for P&O customers between 08 April 00:01 and 10 April 23:59. Please do not proceed to port without a confirmed reservation, contact P&O Ferries for alternative travel arrangements."

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that no fines have been handed out to lorry drivers bypassing Operation Brock - despite warnings they would be hit with £300 penalties.