Ferry companies are turning away some travellers this weekend

The berth broke on Tuesday night when a support cable snapped on a bridge which drops down to allow vehicles off.

The damage is expected to disrupt ferry services for several weeks.

Kent Police have closed the M20 to implement Operation Stack - which sees the motorway used as a lorry park for vehicles queuing to get into Dover.

Things are getting back to some semblance of normality Port of Dover spokeswoman

Two further berths are also out of action due to refurbishment and safety checks.

As a result the Port of Calais said the turn berths in use were experiencing slow turnarounds because only one freight vehicle can go off at a time.

A spokeswoman for the Port of Dover said on Saturday ferries had been running about two hours behind schedule all day, with a force seven wind in the Channel adding to the problems.

However, by the afternoon the tourist traffic at Dover had died down and queues at the port had eased off.

Some of the 400 lorries waiting on the M20 had also been allowed to board the ferries.

School holidays

A Port of Dover spokesman said: "Things are getting back to some semblance of normality.

"Although the berth restrictions in Calais will continue for some weeks, I don't think we will see the sort of congestion we saw last night."

Families leaving for school half-term holiday breaks, and couples heading to the Continent for Valentine's weekend, were caught up in the delays.

The Port of Calais said the repairs would hopefully start next week, with the berth reopening in a few weeks.

SeaFrance and P&O were advising customers to turn up at the right time nonetheless.

SeaFrance said it would continue to operate a full service overnight on Saturday but warned it was taking three hours or more to "discharge" passengers once the ferries arrived in Calais, instead of the normal hour and a half.

P&O was understood to be in a similar position.