Image source, PA Media

The Port of Dover says traffic is now "free-flowing" after French authorities suspended extra EU border checks earlier today.

Queues remain in the check-in area and the approach lanes for ferry operators, the port says, but it is an improvement on earlier in the day when waiting times were hours long. There were also long queues on Friday.

The May bank holiday was always going to be a test for the new EU digital border system - the port's CEO Doug Bannister says more than 8,000 cars were booked today alone.

"It’s taken me six hours to get on my ferry today," driver Jon Lelliot tells the BBC. "The delays of 90 minutes were only once you reached the port itself. The tailbacks on the road into Dover took hours to move through."

The new Entry/Exit System, or EES, was introduced in October last year but has been rolled out gradually. It replaces passport stamping with digitally recorded entries, with those travelling on a UK passport registering biometric details.

French authorities had not yet switched on the machines that will take fingerprints and photos under EES, but they still had to create profiles for travellers linked to the new system.

"Despite having assurances from authorities from our government and the French around how this would work, it really was slow processing this morning," Bannister tells the BBC, adding that "we're all quite frustrated".

We're now bringing our live coverage to a close but you can read more in our story.

Tomasz Schafernaker
BBC lead weather presenter

Image source, Weather Watchers Kerri Baker

Temperatures continue to soar this bank holiday weekend.

As of 14:00, 29.1C has been recorded at Frittenden, Kent, making today the hottest day of the year so far.

Coastal areas are much cooler, with values closer to 20C at the Port of Dover itself. However, just a few miles inland in places sheltered from the sea breeze, temperatures are much higher.

Amber heat health alerts are in force in many parts of England as temperatures are forecast to peak on Monday and Tuesday at around 33C.

There is even a small chance the south-east could reach 34C.

Image source, Getty Images

The gradual introduction of EES, or Entry/Exit System - the EU's new digital border system - began in October last year, with the EU saying it became fully operational on 10 April.

However, due to some hiccups, the system has caused some delays and disruption across Europe:

• On 12 April, about 100 passengers were stranded in Milan when their EasyJet flight to Manchester left without them after they faced three-hour queues due to EES
• Travellers arriving at popular ski destination Geneva also experienced long delays due to the system back in February

Travel experts have told BBC News that the system has been affected by IT issues, and long queues can form where travellers are unable to use the system with ease.

The European Commission had previously indicated that temporarily suspending EES checks will be allowed at busy times until September - which is what has occurred today at Dover.

Image source, PA Media

The Port of Dover has been dealing with long queues today and, in an effort to mitigate the delays, French authorities have suspended extra EU border checks. Here's what you need to know:

Long waits: Drivers waiting to board ferries at the Port of Dover have seen delays of up to four and a half hours at the peak of the heavy delays. In a recent update, the port says traffic in the Buffer Zone is "free flowing" but queues remain in "the tourist check-in plaza and approach lanes"

The Buffer Zone: The Buffer Zone is described as an area "at the front of the port", where "traffic may be held in multiple lanes" while waiting to pass through French border and security checks.

New EU checks: The queues come amid the introduction of a new EU digital border system known as Entry/Exit System (EES), which replaces passport stamping with digitally recorded entries. Those travelling on a UK passport may be required to register biometric details like fingerprints and a photo.

Suspension of checks: French authorities have suspended EES checks to help reduce congestion.Previously, border officials were having to create profiles for travellers linked to the new system, adding to processing times.

Soaring temperatures: The delays come as the UK is experiencing soaring temperatures amid a potential heatwave. Yesterday was the warmest day of the year so far, and temperatures in Dover today are expected to reach 27C, according to the Met Office.

The Port of Dover says that traffic is now "free-flowing" following earlier disruption - meaning that vehicles are moving through the queues at the port smoothly and without delays.

Queues remain in the tourist check-in plaza and "approach lanes for all ferry operators", the port adds in its latest update on X.

Earlier in the day, the port reported traffic delays of up to 90-minutes, before French authorities suspended extra EU border checks due to the long queues and soaring temperatures.

Image source, PA Media

This weekend is being seen as a major test of the new EU border checks. Holidaymakers are out in the soaring temperatures, looking to take advantage of the bank holiday weekend and half term next week for many schools.

Yesterday was the hottest day of the year so far in the UK, with the mercury hitting 28.4C in Heathrow.

Forecasters say Monday could become the hottest May day on record, with temperatures forecast to approach 33C in south-east England.

The UK Health Security Agency has issued amber and yellow heat health alerts across parts of the country, which are in effect until 17:00 BST on Wednesday.

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Doug Bannister, the CEO of the Port of Dover, says they "always knew" this would be a busy period - noting there are more than 8,000 cars booked today.

"Despite having assurances from authorities from our government and the French around how this would work, it really was slow processing this morning," he tells the BBC.

Bannister says that, ahead of the changes, the Port of Dover had invested £40m and built a new facility to "handle these peak volumes efficiently and safely" but the technology to open it "has not been activated".

"We're all quite frustrated," he says, explaining that the port has invested "millions of pounds in working towards what would be the best border experience within the new EES system and we're prevented from operating that way".

He also gave detail about the "Article 9 clause" which the port earlier said had been invoked by French authorities, explaining that this allows "some bits of the process to be suspended for a short period of time" when there is congestion.

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

A new EU digital border system was introduced in October last year, changing the requirements for British citizens travelling to the Schengen area.

The system - known as Entry/Exit System or EES - replaces passport stamping with digitally recorded entries. Those travelling on a UK passport may be required to register biometric details like fingerprints and a photo, the UK Foreign Office explains.

The Port of Dover has said previously it is "working closely" with French border agency partners to "ensure a smooth introduction" for tourist passengers.

But after long delays heading into the bank holiday weekend - seen as a major test of the new system - French authorities suspended the extra checks today after the port escalated the "challenging situation".

As we reported earlier, French authorities had not yet switched on the fingerprint and photo machines, but still had to create profiles for travellers linked to the new system, contributing to delays.

Simon Jones
BBC South East Today

As temperatures rose this morning, so did the waiting times: four and a half hours to get on a ferry at Dover, and three and a half hours for a train at Eurotunnel.

The bank holiday weekend was always going to be busy, but new EU checks - meaning the French police have to create electronic files for each passenger - have been adding to processing times.

By mid-morning, the congestion had got so bad at Dover that the border police decided to suspend the new checks to allow traffic to run more smoothly.

But the port is warning the rest of the day is likely to prove challenging.

Image source, PA Media

Traffic on the roads surrounding the Port of Dover is "slow moving", the port is warning in a new update.

"The surrounding roads are slow moving", it says. "In the tourist check-in plaza and approach lanes, there are queues for all ferry operators."

This follows an update a short while ago, in which the port warned that "the surrounding roads are still very congested, and traffic exiting the port is being directed onto the A2 only".

The port adds that the "processing time for tourist traffic in the Buffer Zone" has now reduced to 45 minutes, when earlier it was 90 minutes.

The Port of Dover describes the Buffer Zone as an area "at the front of the port", where "traffic may be held in multiple lanes" while waiting to pass through French border and security checks.

Separately to the announcement of a suspension of the new EU border checks, the Port of Dover has been issuing other updates for passengers currently waiting.

It says that "if you’ve missed your booked ferry crossing due to current waiting times, your ferry operator will transfer you to the next available sailing free of charge".

The port is also advising passengers to "remain inside your vehicle while in the terminal and stay alert to moving traffic at all times" and follow instructions from staff.

Here’s the update in full, issued by the Port of Dover earlier today:

“Following the Port's active escalation of the challenging situation in Dover with the relevant border authorities, we are pleased that Police Aux Frontieres (PAF) have responded positively by invoking the Article 9 clause of the EES regulations.

"While conventional border checks will still be undertaken, this will now enable PAF to significantly reduce the border processing time.

"We will be working with PAF and all our partners to get customers into and through the port as swiftly as possible and keep the roads clear for our local community.”

Image source, PA Media

French authorities have suspended extra EU border checks at Dover as holidaymakers heading to the port face long queues amid soaring temperatures.

The port says the decision was made after they escalated the "challenging situation" with border authorities, adding it would help to reduce congestion.

The EU biometric border checks, known as the new Entry/Exit System (EES), include British passengers having to have their photo and fingerprints taken to be allowed to enter France.

The EU has been gradually introducing the EES, since October last year.

At Dover, where people go through the French border before they board a cross-Channel ferry, French authorities had not yet switched on the machines that will take fingerprints and photos under EES.

However, border officials still had to create profiles for travellers linked to the new system, meaning it was taking longer to get through border checks.

The May bank holiday is seen as a major test for the new checks, and heavy queues have formed while temperatures have soared.

The processing time within the port fluctuated throughout Saturday morning but travellers continued to face "congested" roads to reach the check-in point.