Road haulage firms have accused Chris Grayling, the transport secretary, of failing to put in place any credible contingency plans for a 'no-deal' Brexit scenario, as well as "knowing nothing" about their industry.

Speaking to the Telegraph, industry leaders said they were left astonished in recent meetings with Mr Grayling where he appeared to be unaware that British lorry drivers would not be able to carry goods on the continent if the UK crashes out of the bloc.

They also claimed the Department for Transport was trying to "hang its hat" on a flawed contingency plan involving a major lorry park at the port of Dover, known as Operation Brock, and an antiquated permit system, which they said would do little to mitigate customs delays.

"People who know nothing about this industry are making vital decisions on it, and that is clear when you talk to Chris Grayling about what Brexit will mean to the UK international transport community...he is out of touch and lacking in key information," Kevin Hopper, managing director of Brian Yeardley Continental, told the Telegraph.

His comments came as the latest sign that the government is not carrying out sufficient 'no-deal' planning and working on the assumption that a trade agreement will be struck with the EU, despite mounting evidence to the contrary.