TRUCK drivers are being threatened by organised gangs of migrants throwing stones and trying to get aboard trucks at Calais.
According to the UK's Freight Transport Association (FTA), its members had reported a worsening situation in recent days as delays at the Eurotunnel terminal push trucks towards the ferry port, where migrant numbers in the jungle camp have risen to 6,000, reported Lloyd's Loading List.
Lorry driver Euan Flemming, who has been using the Dover-Calais route for 10 years, said migrants were surrounding trucks and dropping from bridges onto the roofs of curtain-sided vehicles, the FTA reported.
Mr Flemming, who drives for Belfast firm Blair Transport, said: "It made big news in the summer because holidaymakers were affected but the situation is worse than ever. I'm sitting here in a curtain-sided truck and there are thousands of migrants all around - I might as well roll out the red carpet.
"The situation improved in August and September but this week it has gone downhill. The migrants have mobilised themselves - it is shockingly bad right now."
Mr Flemming said his colleagues had earlier this month witnessed an invasion of the secure lorry compound at the port, with "running riots" as migrants tried to board lorries.
According to FTA's international affairs manager, Donald Armour, the migrants have successfully managed to break through the security fencing at the Eurotunnel compound and past the other measures put in place since the summer.
"FTA believes more robust measures need to be taken by the French authorities to keep drivers safe and to ensure that Eurotunnel can function properly, without the dangers and serious disruption our members have had to endure."
Frequent invasions of the Eurotunnel compound by migrants in recent days have caused long delays for freight on both sides of the Channel, with the Traffic Action Plan being put in place in Dover to deal with the huge numbers of queuing lorries
Mr Armour said the FTA welcomes the news that "500 additional French police are to be deployed in order to strengthen the Tunnel's defences, but clearly this isn't sufficient to cope with the relentless nightly attacks. We are very concerned that drivers are still being put at risk as they travel through Pas de Calais back to the ports."
WORLD SHIPPING
27 October 2015 - 22:03
Migrants aggressively target freight vehicles as chaos returns to Calais
TRUCK drivers are being threatened by organised gangs of migrants throwing stones and trying to get aboard trucks at Calais.
WORLD SHIPPING
27 October 2015 - 22:03
Migrants aggressively target freight vehicles as chaos returns to Calais
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