French authorities suspend new EU border checks at Dover amid long queues

French authorities have suspended new EU border checks at Dover after holidaymakers heading to the port faced long queues on Saturday.

The port said the move was made after they escalated the "challenging situation" with border authorities, adding it would help to clear the queues and reduce congestion on surrounding roads.

The May bank holiday is seen as a major test for the new European Union border checks, with heavy queues forming while temperatures across the UK soar.

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

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.

Due to the congestion, traffic leaving the port is being directed onto the A2 only.

Passengers who miss their ferry crossing due to wait times will be able to travel on the next available crossing, the port said.

It comes as the UK is forecast for an unusually hot May bank holiday.

Temperatures are due to continue to increase on Saturday after the warmest day of the year was recorded on Friday, with a high of 28.4C at Heathrow in west London, Cranwell in Lincolnshire and Cambridge.

Daytime highs are forecast to reach the upper 20s Celsius in many areas, with the low 30s Celsius likely in the week ahead.