A HOLIDAY maker from Shoebury has described how she was delayed for two hours at the Channel Tunnel due to the migrant crisis at Calais.

About 5,000 migrants displaced from war-torn countries such as Syria, Libya and Eritrea have disrupted services at Calais, with one having already drowned after trying to break through a secure fence on the Eurotunnel site.

Carole Marchant from Shoebury said her holiday to France got off to a slow start after she was delayed by two hours at the Eurotunnel terminal.

She said: "We're heading to the Vendee. We had a delay of two hours but once we were in the terminal all was fine, if very busy.

"It's very busy at junction 11a (of the M20) so the trick is to always stay right of the HGVs."

A Eurotunnel spokesman said: "More migrants tried to get into the tunnel (yesterday) **July 23** and tried to get on the trains there.

"We are obliged to shut down the tunnel when something like this occurs.

“There are around 5,000 (migrants) in and around Calais trying to get across the Channel and this has come on a very busy day."

The Home Office said work to bolster security at Coquelles had already started, including the erection of permanent fencing to try to prevent migrants from attempting to cross the Channel.