More travel chaos ahead despite Cook meeting

Travel chaos suffered by British lorry drivers and tourists during this week's blockade at French Channel ports is expected be discussed at a meeting of European foreign ministers today.

Travel chaos suffered by British lorry drivers and tourists during this week's blockade at French Channel ports is expected be discussed at a meeting of European foreign ministers today.

Foreign Secretary Robin Cook has promised to raise the issue when he meets with his French counterpart later today in Evian at an informal meeting of Foreign Office ministers, which is expected to last two days.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "He will raise the issue when he meets his French counterpart, Mr Vedrine. He will raise concerns about the effect the ferry blockade has on the travelling and ask him to look at how these things happen."

The blockades by French fishermen in protest at fuel price increases left thousands of holidaymakers and lorry drivers stranded on both sides of the Channel.

Meanwhile, this weekend British tourists and hauliers driving through France were being warned they face yet more road chaos.

Hundreds of French lorry drivers, taxi drivers and farmers were blockading their own cities in a renewed protest at rising fuel prices.