Work has begun on the so-called 'Great Wall of Calais' - a 13ft high concrete barrier aimed at stopping migrants jumping onto UK-bound lorries.

The £2.5million structure, which is being funded by British taxpayers, will run 0.6 miles along the motorway leading to the French port.

The first concrete panels were moved into place by a crane on Saturday, with construction expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Work has begun on the so-called 'Great Wall of Calais' - a 13ft high concrete barrier aimed at stopping migrants jumping onto UK-bound lorries

The £2.5million structure, which is being funded by British taxpayers, will run 0.6 miles along the motorway leading to the French port

The barrier stretches nearly a mile along the main motorway to the port (seen on the map above) between the Jungle and the port

A legal challenge to stop construction of the wall mounted by the Calais mayor was overruled by the local administration.

Natacha Bouchart initially favoured a wall but then said there was no need for one because the French government had promised to close down the Jungle camp.

The Road Haulage Association, which represents UK truck drivers, also came out against the project.

Spokeswoman Kate Gibbs said: 'Money would be much better spent on boosting security along the approach road.

'This is being called the Great Wall of Calais but what good will it do?

'We are telling our drivers not to stop within 150 miles of Calais so they are not targeted by migrants.'

But immigration minister Robert Goodwill said in September the wall would halt the flow of migrants and keep drivers safe.

The Home Office said the measure would stop stowaways using projectiles in attempts to 'disrupt, delay or even attack vehicles approaching the port'.

In July official figures showed that one migrant is caught trying to sneak into the UK every six minutes – with 84,088 detentions at our borders last year

The first concrete panels were moved into place by a crane on Saturday, with construction expected to be completed by the end of the year

A legal challenge to stop construction of the wall mounted by the Calais mayor was overruled by the local administration

The Home Office said the measure would stop stowaways using projectiles in attempts to 'disrupt, delay or even attack vehicles approaching the port'

The start of construction work comes as unaccompanied migrant children from the Jungle began arriving in Britain.

The Calais prefecture confirmed that two dozen unaccompanied minors were already bound for a new life in Britain, where they had family members.

'Five Syrian minors and one Afghan minor have just been transferred to the United Kingdom,' a spokesman said.