Thousands of lorry drivers were spending Christmas Day in their cabs at the English Channel border despite progress being made to return hauliers to their home countries.
Hundreds of soldiers have been deployed as part of the repatriation operation in Kent after French Covid-19 restrictions temporarily banning UK freight caused severe disruption at the Port of Dover.
Traffic was moving smoothly through the port this morning, with French firefighters drafted in to help the military to test drivers for Covid-19.
Some 5,000 remain unable to get home yet, despite some progress made in testing drivers holed up in their vehicles at nearby Manston Airport, on a closed section of the M20, and in the town of Dover itself.
Some have already spent nearly a week stranded due to the diplomatic impasse.