Dover ferry passengers face hour-long queues and huge delays as summer getaway season begins

THE summer getaway began last night — with long queues and huge delays at Dover.

Travellers arrived at the port hours after bosses unveiled a plan to cope with large numbers.

But instead of a smooth transit, cars, caravans and motorhomes sat bumper to bumper.

Families were told they faced up to 2½-hour waits at peak times for the first holiday weekend.

More than 6,000 cars are set to arrive today, and 7,500 tomorrow.

expects up to 12.6million leisure trips by road this weekend.

Strikes in Europe by air traffic controllers and cabin crew have hit flights.

EasyJet has had to cancel 1,700, affecting up to 180,000 customers.

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary said: “If French ATC staff strike, it’s their domestic flights that should be cancelled.”

Last week the long waiting times had been caused by tourist traffic starting their summer getaways early.

School term and holiday dates vary across the UK, but many kids are already off for the six-week break.

In a message to waiting passengers, the port : "Today is already proving a popular travel day at Dover, and the port is busy processing strong volumes of tourist traffic.

"Teams from the port, Police aux Frontieres and our ferry operators are working to get you through as swiftly as possible."