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Builders in Calais could be seen laying the foundation of the huge concrete structure, which will eventually cost British taxpayers around £2m. A journalist working for AFP, France's national news agency, today tweeted picture of the scene, saying work on the 'anti-intrusion' wall had begun. French charities politicians from both left and right are among those who have reacted with fury to the building of the so-called 'Wall of Shame'. They said they were disgusted by the prospect of the 13ft high, mile-long structure which will be designed to try and stop migrants getting aboard UK-bound lorries.

AFP/GETTY Workers dig foundations of a wall along the road leading to the harbour of Calais

A petition has already been started, saying French frontier controls should simply be moved to the south coast of England, along with all the refugees who want to go there. Numerous demonstrations have already been held in Calais against the construction of the wall over the past two years. Francois Guennoc, of the Auberge des migrants (Migrants' Shelter) group, told a crowd: "When you build a wall, people try to find ways to get round it." Mr Guennoc said: "It's a waste of money. The only consequence is that the crossing will be more dangerous for migrants, and the people smugglers will increase their rates. "People will just take more risks."

AFP/GETTY Workers pour concrete along the road leading to the harbour of Calais

The Auberge is one of numerous charities currently looking after some 10,000 refugees in the so-called 'Jungle' camp in Calais. All want to get to Britain, where they will claim asylum, or else start working in the black economy. Thierry Kuhn, head of the Emmaus France charity, which also works in the Jungle, said: "We are all gathered to refuse a new wall which is set to be built on our doorstep, in Calais. "We are all gathered to say no to the wall of shame." Humourist Guy Bedos, a French celebrity who lives in Calais, said he was 'repulsed' by the thought of the wall, because it made him 'ashamed to be human'. Mr Bedos said the wall "dishonours the French Republic", and that more humanitarian steps should be taken to deal with Europe's mounting refugee crisis.

AFP/GETTY Politicians from both left and right have reacted with fury at the building of the 'wall of shame'

The online petition against the wall reads: "We must stop this expenditure by the British taxpayer being used to build a wall that has no meaning." It adds that Britain should deal with the refugees who want to start lives in the UK, deporting them if necessary. This view is shared by France's Opposition Republican Party. Its leader Nicolas Sarkozy, who wants to stand for re-election as president next year, is "demanding the opening of a centre in Britain to deal with asylum seekers in Britain so that Britain can do the work that concerns them". This would lead to the French simply sending the thousands arriving from war-torn countries such as Afghanistan, Eritrea and Syria straight to the south coast of England, so effectively transferring the Jungle to England.

AFP/GETTY Numerous demonstrations have already been held in Calais against the construction of the wall