BRITAIN will begin work on a Great Wall of Calais to keep out migrants “very soon”, the Immigration Minister said yesterday.

Robert Goodwill insisted the £1.9 million concrete barrier first revealed in July would be erected at nearly four metres tall – replacing barbed wire.

5 Great Wall of Calais... Britain is set to build a 13ft-high wall to stop migrants at the Jungle camp getting into the UK

5 The Great Wall of Calais will stop refugees attempting to endanger truck drivers at the port Credit: Getty Images

5 There is huge pressure for the concrete wall to be built before the French start clearing out the 'Jungle' camp Credit: Getty Images

Ministers are desperate to start work after an explosion in the number of migrants trying to reach the UK before the French clear the ‘Jungle’ refugee camp.

Immigration Minister Mr Goodwill told the Commons’ Home Affairs Select Committee: "The security that we are putting in at the port is being stepped up with better equipment.

"We are going to start building this big new wall very soon. We’ve done the fence, now we are doing a wall."

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Construction of the new wall is due to commence this month and is expected to be completed by the end of 2016.

The Home Office said the measure was intended to stop migrant attempts to "disrupt, delay or even attack vehicles approaching the port."

His comments come as the migrant camp in Calais continues to swell in population despite France's best efforts - and promises - to close it down.

5 There are calls from Calais residents to shut down the Jungle camp Credit: Getty Images

It now houses an estimated 10,000 people - mostly migrants from the Middle East and Africa who are desperate to reach Britain.

However, their attempts to forcibly board lorries crossing the Channel are turning increasingly violent.

Holidaymakers and truckers have filmed armed gangs using fires and huge branches to halt traffic on motorways near Calais - before storming the vehicles.

Just this week French truckers and farmers staged a blockade of the port city in a bid to disrupt trade vehicles making the Channel crossing.

Refusing to move until the government promised them a date of closure of the Jungle, protesters marched on foot while trucks blocked traffic.