At least 2,200 illegal migrants tried to storm Channel Tunnel in Calais

Lorries are once again being parked on M20 in Kent to cope with backlog

Passenger services delayed by an hour in both

Two Sudanese migrants in hospital after being hit by high-speed trains

At least 2200 illegal migrants tried to storm the Channel Tunnel in a bid to reach Britain from France, it has been revealed.

In one of the worst security breaches in the history of the undersea link, huge gangs broke through security fencing in Calais in the early hours.

It comes as Home Secretary Theresa May announced that Britain had agreed to provide an extra £7million towards efforts to tackle the Calais migrant crisis.

A French police source described the scenes as 'absolute pandemonium' today. ‘They were pouring in through holes in the fencing and clinging on to Eurotunnel trains,' he said.

At least 2200 illegal migrants tried to storm the Channel Tunnel in a bid to reach Britain from France. These migrants were pictured walking along tracks at the Eurotunnel terminal in Calais-Frethun today

Migrants who successfully crossed the Eurotunnel terminal walk on the side of the railroad as they try to reach a shuttle to Britain

In one of the worst security breaches in the history of the undersea link, huge gangs broke through security fencing in Calais in the early hours

‘Some two hundred security staff, including riot police were drafted in to deal with the trouble. It all went on for about six hours from midnight on Monday.

‘About fifteen migrants suffered injuries, and were treated by paramedics before the entire site was cleared by around 6am on Tuesday. There were delays on all services.’

A spokesman for the Pas de Calais prefecture said: ‘This was a very serious breach, and there will be a full investigation.’

He said ‘around 2200’ migrants were involved. Eurotunnel, the Channel Tunnel operator, confirmed that ‘migrant activity’ had caused delays to services on Tuesday morning.

Two of the illegal migrants were in hospital in Calais today after being hit by high speed trains as they tried to get through the Tunnel.

The first, a 35-year-old originally from Sudan, was ‘seriously injured’ at around 4.30am on Monday.

His fellow countrymen, aged 32, fell under a train, and also suffered wounds to the head, upper body and arms.

Seven other migrants had to be saved from drowning at around the same time, after falling into a concrete water collection basin near the Tunnel entrance.

Eurotunnel, the Channel Tunnel operator, confirmed that ‘migrant activity’ had caused delays to services on Tuesday morning

A police source revealed that about two hundred security staff, including riot police were drafted in to deal with the trouble

The incident is said to have lasted for about six hours from midnight on Monday. Migrants are pictured gathering near the terminal in Calais

A spokesman for the Pas de Calais prefecture called the incident a 'very serious breach' and promised a 'full investigation'

The breack comes as Home Secretary Theresa May announced that Britain had agreed to provide an extra £7million towards efforts to tackle the Calais migrant crisis

‘They put their lives in huge danger, and were very lucky to escape,’ said a judicial source investigating the accidents.

They follow ten deaths in as many weeks, as increasingly desperate migrants take more risks to get to Britain, where they will claims asylum or disappear into the black economy.

Most have been killed after climbing on the top of trains, walking along busy motorways, or falling into water.

Delays of up to five hours were reported at the weekend, as thousands of migrants took advantage of the gridlock to try and get aboard lorries heading to the UK.

The chaos has been made work by striking French seamen who regularly disrupt train and ferry services in a dispute over job losses.

There are currently some 5000 illegal migrants in the French port, and they use any opportunity they can to get to the UK.

Transport chiefs have estimated that Britain’s freight industry is losing some £750,000 pounds a day because of the problems.

Travellers are once again facing major delays on the Eurotunnel due to further migrant activity at the terminal

Lorries are once again being parked on the M20 as police reintroduced emergency closures – known as Operation Stack – while Channel Tunnel trains suffered further disruption

The principal migrant camp in Calais has ballooned to the size of a small town, as up to 150 people arrive each day to take up residence.

Britain this afternoon agreed to provide £7million towards efforts to tackle the crisis with the money earmarked for extra security at the Channel Tunnel railhead in Coquelles.

Calais Mayor Natacha Bouchart blames the UK’s soft benefits culture for all the migrants arriving in her town.

Lorries are also once more being parked on the M20 as police reintroduced emergency closures, causing a new wave of gridlock in Kent.

Kent Police reinstated Operation Stack – where HGVs are queued on sections of the motorway in Kent to avoid gridlock on the county's roads – with junctions 8 to 9 closed to non-freight traffic.

CALAIS CRISIS: THERESA MAY ANNOUNCES £7MILLION SECURITY BOOST Britain has agreed to provide an extra £7million towards efforts to tackle the Calais migrant crisis, Theresa May has announced. The money will be used to step up security at the Channel Tunnel railhead in Coquelles. Earlier this week it was reported that police were being called to the terminal, which is close to Calais, on a nightly basis to deal with incursions by hundreds of migrants. The Home Secretary disclosed the extra funding following a meeting between British and French officials to discuss the continuing disruption. She said: 'We've had a very constructive meeting. The French and UK governments are working in close collaboration and cooperation on this issue which affects us both. Britain has agreed to provide an extra £7million towards efforts to tackle the Calais migrant crisis, Theresa May (pictured) has announced 'We are both clear that we need to ensure we are dealing with the terrible criminal gangs, the people smugglers, who are making a profit out of the human misery of many people.' Mrs May said French authorities have committed extra resources to security at Calais. Asked why British taxpayers should be paying for a problem taking place on French soil, she said: 'We have juxtaposed controls at the border. We work together on dealing with this particular problem.' The Home Secretary said she was 'very aware' of the impact of the crisis on lorry drivers, those affected by delays and the people of Kent. An excerpt from a communique following today's conference said: 'The UK and France agree it is vital we deal with the continuous migration of people from countries of origin. Both countries have agreed to work together on returning migrants to their countries of origin, particularly in West Africa.' Earlier this month the Home Secretary announced that a new secure zone will be created at Calais for UK-bound lorries in response to an unprecedented surge in migrants attempting to cross the Channel. The area will cost around two million euros (£1.4 million) and is expected to be complete in the autumn. Last autumn the Government pledged £12m to help France tackle the problem of illegal immigrants attempting to cross the Channel. Advertisement

A police spokesman said the measure had been enforced because of the large amount of freight traffic heading towards the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel along with 'continued disruption' in Calais.

Eurotunnel said: 'We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience this will cause to your journey.'

The port said it remained 'open for business' with P&O operating full services to Calais and DFDS Seaways to Dunkirk.

In a statement, it said: 'The port and the ferry operators are together working hard to serve all customers travelling to and from the continent.

'We apologise for any delays or inconvenience as a result of traffic congestion.'

Holidaymakers planning to return to the UK from Europe are being urged to consider avoiding Calais as ferry and farmer protests continue to wreak havoc in France. Above: French workers set fire to tyres in Calais

It comes hours after British holidaymakers were given an official warning to avoid Calais after militant French workers fired a distress flare at a ferry.

French farmers have also brought roads to a standstill with a series of protests over falling food prices.

Britons heading back to this country were urged to find an alternative route home.

Anyone who had to travel through the French port was told to keep their vehicle doors locked because of the ‘large number of illegal migrants’ trying to reach the UK.

After weeks of disruption to Eurotunnel and ferry services, Home Secretary Theresa May will today hold talks with her French counterparts amid fears the chaos at Calais will escalate over the busy school holidays.

Ministers – under mounting pressure to demand firmer action from the French – are seeking ways to protect travellers from illegal immigrants massed at the port.

Yesterday, scores of families travelling with the ferry company DFDS Seaways had their journey to Calais re-routed to Dunkirk, almost 30 miles away.

DFDS said that because of safety concerns for passengers and staff, it was not willing to sail from Calais. This followed an alarming incident in which a distress flare hit one of the company’s vessels.

A graphic showing how the migrant camp in Calais is just a few hundred metres from the ferry and Eurotunnel terminals, giving asylum seekers prime position to try to sneak into Britain

It is the latest trouble caused by striking French ferry workers at the Eurotunnel terminal, which has seen Channel Tunnel services suspended.

Motorists have faced long queues, as well as the threat of migrants trying to clamber into their vehicles.

Meanwhile, local residents have told how Operation Stack has made their lives a misery.

Such is the traffic gridlock, that residents have effectively been confined to their homes – in some cases even missing vital hospital appointments.

Local businesses have also been hit as the blocked roads keep regular customers away, not to mention the disruption caused by the arrival of thousands of lorry drivers.

It has been estimated the operation, which has been in place on 21 days in the past three months, has already cost the Kent economy around £31.5million so far this year – £1.5million a day.