The UK shipping industry could avoid a post-Brexit "Armageddon scenario" by diverting sea cargo from Dover to eastern ports such as Felixstowe, Britain's largest port operator has said.

In a policy paper presented to the government this week, Associated British Ports (ABP) called for the UK to reduce its dependency on Dover and instead invest in ports on the Thames, East Anglia and the Humber, among others.

The operator said this would reduce disruption to trade by removing the risk of a bottleneck of traffic in Dover, which handles £120bn in imports and exports per year.

It comes after Tim Waggott, the head of the port of Dover, warned it was facing a possible "Armageddon scenario" of chronic delays and traffic congestion due to the risk of lengthy customs checks after Brexit.