Truck drivers are refusing to drive to Calais as they are routinely threatened by migrants trying to make their way to Ireland and the UK, it has been claimed.

The migrant crisis in Calais is likely to affect the Irish export market, according to the Irish Road Haulage Association.

It says that the current situation there, where many haulage trucks are experiencing massive delays, is a dangerous one for Irish drivers.

"All drivers are reporting incidents of being threatened with iron bars, broken bottles, knives - and especially knives on the basis that that's what the migrants all seem to have and use to cut into trailers," said President of the IRHA, Verona Murphy.

"The tarpaulin on a curtain-sider is easily slit with a knife and accessed by the migrants.

"Drivers are refusing to go there and we can't say that we blame them. Safety is a big issue."