French industrial action has added to the berthing problems

A berth at the French port has been out of action since 8 February, after being damaged when a gangway rope snapped and two lorries overturned.

Mike Beer, who runs a fleet of trucks out of Dover, with up to 600 Channel crossings a month, said it had been the "worst time" he could remember.

The Calais Chamber of Commerce expects a new berth to be open in a fortnight.

Mr Beer said a succession of delays had seriously affected his business.

He said: "It's certainly hit us financially. It's about the worst time that I can actually remember to have all the problems coming together.

Mike Beer said Operation Stack arrangements had been 'abysmal'

"High fuel costs, the ferry problem, the Working Time Directive, you put all the lot together and it's been a very difficult time for any haulier at the moment that does international business."

Mr Beer estimated that his firm had been losing about �1,000 a day.

"That's through extra ferry costs by diverting them to different routes and the mileage included."

He added that his drivers had used other ports at Ramsgate and Newhaven, but the time spent queuing had "lost in production about a day per vehicle per week".

Geoff Dossetter, from the Freight Transport Association, said: "We want Dover working properly, more to the point we want Calais working properly which will enable Dover to work properly."