While Channel Tunnel services are beginning to return to normal, that will be of little consolation to lorry drivers making regular trips from Calais to Dover, who claim that migrants – some reportedly armed with knives – are 'torturing' them on a daily basis in their attempt to get across the Channel.

"We need help, they are aggressive, they are closing the doors so we don’t see what happens and they are trying to go into our trucks, they are stealing our goods," cries one truck driver, who had just searched underneath her vehicle and in every possible gap to see whether any migrants had managed to hide.

Another told Sky News that some are armed with knives "and they're not afraid to use them", leaving drivers powerless to tell them to get out.

This followed the chaotic scenes of Tuesday, when France's striking ferry workers managed to break into the Channel tunnel, forcing its closure. The resulting traffic delays saw migrants use the opportunity to board lorries bound for the UK.

Growing numbers of migrants have been waiting in Calais at the side of the motorway for several months as they attempt to board trucks stuck in slow-moving traffic in hope of a better life in the UK. Videos from Tuesday and in recent weeks have shown many migrants climbing onto the backs of trucks, opening the doors and clambering inside.

In pictures: Calais crisis Show all 15 1 /15 In pictures: Calais crisis In pictures: Calais crisis Calais crisis Migrants climb in the back of a lorry on the A16 highway leading to the Eurotunnel in Calais Getty Images In pictures: Calais crisis Calais crisis Protesting French employees of the company English Channel passenger and freight ferry company "MyFerryLink" block the railway tracks of the Eurostar Channel tunnel line in Calais Getty Images In pictures: Calais crisis Calais crisis Protesting French employees of the company English Channel passenger and freight ferry company "MyFerryLink" block the railway tracks of the Eurostar Channel tunnel line with a burning plastic barrier In pictures: Calais crisis Calais crisis French riot police officers drive out protesting French employees of the freight ferry company MyFerryLink Getty Images In pictures: Calais crisis Calais crisis French riot police take position to drive out protesters blocking the railway tracks Getty Images In pictures: Calais crisis Calais crisis Passengers stranded by the cancellation of Eurostar trains wait at St. Pancras station in London. Eurostar said it has canceled all passenger trains through the tunnel that links France and England, after striking ferry workers swarmed the train line setting tires alight In pictures: Calais crisis Calais crisis Passengers sit on stairs after being stranded by cancelled Eurostar trains at St. Pancras station in London In pictures: Calais crisis Calais crisis A police vehicle drives past lorries are backed up on the M20 motorway which leads from London to the Channel Tunnel terminal at Ashford and the Ferry Terminal at Dover In pictures: Calais crisis Calais crisis Trucks queue up as part of Operation Stack in Dover In pictures: Calais crisis Calais crisis Cars queue to board a ferry in Dover bound for Dunkirk, France, as the disruption at Calais looks set to enter a second day as migrants continue to target lorries in a bid to cross into the UK In pictures: Calais crisis Calais crisis A police officer sprays tear gas to migrants trying to access the Channel Tunnel on the A16 highway in Calais, northern France PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Calais crisis Calais crisis Migrants wait near the A16 highway as they try to access the Channel Tunnel in Calais, northern France PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Calais crisis Calais crisis Striking employees of the French company My Ferry Link, a cross-channel ferry service, stand in front of tyres set on fire as they block the access to the Channel Tunnel in Calais, northern France PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Calais crisis Calais crisis A striking employee of the French company My Ferry Link, a cross-channel ferry service, sits on a tyre in front of tyres set on fire as he takes part in a blockade of the access to the Channel Tunnel in Calais, northern France PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Calais crisis Calais crisis Striking employees of the French company My Ferry Link, a cross-channel ferry service, prepare to set tyres on fire to block the access to the Channel Tunnel in Calais, northern France PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images

Natalie Chapman from the Freight Transport Association told LBC radio that yesterday was "a perfect storm" of strikes, closures and tailbacks.

"When you combine that with the current crisis we're having with migrants trying to get on board vehicles, it's caused some real issues for drivers," Chapman said. "I think some drivers certainly the other side of the Channel have spent a very disturbed night of sleep really just keeping one eye open to see who's trying to get on board their vehicle."

Another said, "They broke my padlock, broke my seal. Up in my truck are around ten or eleven people."

According to estimates, the number of migrants at Calais has reached over 3,000. Aid workers believe 2,000 refugees from Eritrea, Syria and Afghanistan could arrive over the next few months.

In a bid to ease the fears of British truck drivers - with British freight officials claiming their drivers are dealing with a "war zone" in Calais - the immigration minister, James Brokenshire, said that more resources would be put in place to screen lorries when they arrive at Dover. There will also be an increase of French police officials in Calais.

The deputy mayor of Calais, Philippe Mignonet, said that the border should be moved from northern France to Britain.

Eurotunnel said that passenger and freight shuttles were now running as scheduled, with Eurostar also operating a full service from London through to Paris and Brussels.