French hauliers, farmers and unionists have ended their blockade of a major motorway in Calais, while threatening to stage fresh protests if the "Jungle" migrant camp is not rapidly dismantled.

Protesters staged a "go-slow" on the A16, the main route for freight and passengers heading to Britain via the Channel Tunnel and the Calais port, in anger at the impact that the camp was having on the town.

On Monday night, local authorities agreed to speed up the camp's demolition and boost police numbers on the town's roads, where protest organisers have claimed drivers "can't travel without fear and without the certainty that they won't be attacked".

The protest's leaders have said they will cause further disruption on Tuesday if these commitments are not met, which could cause renewed travel misery for holidaymakers trying to return to the UK.

EuroTunnel has told its customers that its passenger service is now operating as normal, and the A16 is open.


Migrant Camp Protest Blocks Roads To Calais

Hauliers were threatening to keep blocking the A16 until the French government committed to a date to break up the rest of the "Jungle".

British holidaymakers returning home claimed they were being diverted on to unsigned back roads without any directions from police.

Pressure has been growing on French authorities to tackle the camp, which has swelled in size in recent months.

Protest organiser Antoine Ravisse said: "The first point is we want the motorways safe again. It's unacceptable that today in France you can't travel without fear and without the certainty that you won't be attacked.

"We apologise to our British friends - our economy depends very much on the business we do with England."

Aid groups have warned that speedily shutting down the camp could worsen humanitarian issues in Calais and aggravate the city's troubles.

Up to 9,000 migrants from countries including Sudan, Syria and Eritrea are living in the "Jungle", despite efforts to reduce numbers by dismantling the southern section of the camp earlier this year.

People traffickers are reported to have resorted to extreme lengths in their efforts to reach the UK, torching vehicles, throwing petrol bombs and cutting down trees to block roads before threatening drivers with chainsaws and machetes.

Gangs are paid thousands of pounds by vulnerable migrants to get them to Calais, from where some are smuggled to Britain where they are forced to pay off huge debts to the traffickers.

Traffickers have even deliberately caused car crashes on roads leading to the Calais port by hurling large objects at cars, then stowing away on lorries caught up in traffic jams behind the accidents.

Image: Harbour workers, storekeepers and residents take part in Calais protests

David Sagnard, president of the FNTR national truck drivers' federation, said that in recent months the situation in Calais had become "worse and worse".

He added: "Before, it was just attempts to get on trucks. Now there is looting and wilful destruction, tarpaulins are slashed, goods stolen or destroyed.

"Drivers go to work with fear in their bellies and the economic consequences are severe."