Warnings of a “logjam” at Britain’s ports as a result of a no-deal Brexit are misleading, a senior representative of the industry has said.

It comes after Philip Hammond, the Chancellor, said that ports would face chaos if the UK left the EU without a deal and would take “years” to adapt.

But Tim Morris, the chief executive of UK Major Ports Group, the trade body, said: “The UK’s port sector is a resilient, adaptable and highly competitive one, offering customers a range of options.

"We will work through the challenges of Brexit as we have done with huge changes throughout the centuries.”

In a letter to The Daily Telegraph on behalf of port operators responsible for 75 per cent of the UK’s seaborne trade, Mr Morris challenged the Chancellor’s warnings, which used Dover port as an example.