The EU Commission is due to devise a set of technical recommendations later on how to coordinate the flow of goods and key cargo between the UK and other countries.

It will also make recommendations on how best member states can repatriate their nationals who are trying to get home.

As expected, the commission will not recommend a common restrictions policy for member states to follow.

The announcement, expected this afternoon, will be followed by a meeting of EU ambassadors, who will continue discussions on travel restrictions.

Lauren Moss
Political Editor, BBC South East Today

Bosses at Eurotunnel estimate that 2000 to 2500 freight vehicles are expected inbound today and again tomorrow.

Currently none are leaving via the same route or the Port of Dover while discussions continue regarding reopening France's border to the UK.

Simon Jones
Reporter, BBC South East Today

Last night the government said there were 945 lorries parked up on the M20 motorway.

But driving around Dover this morning, there are HGVs everywhere - on the side of the road, in lay bys and in car parks.

That means the number of hauliers caught up in the chaos is likely to be far higher.

Lorry drivers are used to sitting in delays, and will often sleep in their cabs. But for those I've spoken to this morning, it's the uncertainty that is the most difficult thing.

They don't know how long this will go on for; they don't know whether they will get home for Christmas.

Even if France does reopen the border today, this backlog will take some time to shift, especially if drivers have to be tested before crossing the Channel.

Image source, PA Media

About 650 lorries are parked on the M20 between junctions 11 and 9 as part of Operation Stack, the Department for Transport has said.

These are due be moved to Manston today, a DfT spokesman said.

They will join about 870 lorries that were already on site as of 06:00 GMT.

The Home Secretary, Priti Patel, says discussions are taking place between the UK and French governments in order to resolve the closure of the French border.

She said: "It is in both our interests to find a resolution and those conversations are taking place.

"Testing of some sort is part of the discussions that the transport secretary is having with his counterpart in France right now. Getting those tests up and running can happen relatively quickly."

She said the variant of the virus has been found elsewhere in the world and could also be spreading in Europe.

"It is in all our interests to keep each other safe, whether it is testing, a vaccine… the tools at our disposal. The government will take all the necessary steps to contain this."

Borders need to be opened by Wednesday to ensure no disruption to food supplies, the British Retail Consortium has said.

Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "There is a problem potentially directly after Christmas and that is really in fresh produce, so we're talking here about things like salad, vegetables, fresh fruit, of which the vast majority come from Europe at this time.

"The problem actually is empty lorries, so the empty lorries which are now stuck in Kent, they need to get back to places like Spain to pick up the [next] consignment of raspberries and strawberries and they need to get back within the next day or so otherwise we will see disruption."

He added: "As long as it can be cleared today there'll be minimal impact for consumers."

Lorry drivers stranded in Kent were offered "just one cereal bar" by council officials on Monday, it has been claimed.

Rod McKenzie, managing director of the Road Haulage Association, told BBC Breakfast, their morale was "very poor".

He said: "Many of them are European drivers trying to get home for Christmas. Their morale is very poor.

"Yesterday Kent County Council offered each of them one cereal bar which is a pretty poor effort I think in terms of maintaining their morale and their spirits.”

Lorry drivers in Kent have spent a second night sleeping in their vehicles waiting for the border with France to reopen - as politicians thrash out a plan to restart trade and travel.

• France shut the border for 48 hours on Sunday over the UK's new virus variant.
• The government said 945 lorries were stacked up near Dover on Monday night - but the number now seems to be much higher, said BBC reporter Simon Jones.
• More than 40 countries have now banned UK arrivals.
• And EU countries are talking about how to form a united response, amid fears over the virus mutation.

The British Retail Consortium has said borders need to be running "pretty much freely" from Wednesday to avoid disruption to fresh food supplies.

Its director, Andrew Opie, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "There is a problem potentially directly after Christmas and that is really in fresh produce, so we're talking here about things like salad, vegetables, fresh fruit.

"The problem actually is empty lorries, so the empty lorries which are now stuck in Kent, they need to get back to places like Spain to pick up the net (next) consignment of raspberries and strawberries and they need to get back within the next day or so otherwise we will see disruption."

The M20 is closed between J7-J9 until 08:00 GMT while the moveable barrier for Operation Brock is being implemented by Highways England.

The Department of Transport is "strongly advising" people and hauliers not to travel to Kent ports.

The BBC's Simon Jones is at Dover this morning keeping an eye on developments.

We'll be bringing you the latest developments as lorry drivers in Kent spend a second night sleeping in their vehicles waiting for the border with France to reopen.

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Spain and India are among the nations to suspend flights amid concern over spread of new variant.

But Tesco and Sainsbury's warn some fresh goods could run short if a French haulier ban continues.

"Contingency measures" are brought in to ease congestion as drivers queue to leave the UK.

We're going to wrap up our live coverage for the day. Thanks for joining us.

To view the latest BBC News Online story after France closed its borders with the UK, go here

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson said delays at Dover only affect "human-handled freight" - about 20% of the total going to continental Europe.

Helen Catt
Political correspondent

As expected, the prime minister and the transport secretary were keen to try to reassure people that they have things under control.

Plans that have been worked on to prepare for the possibility of a no-deal Brexit are now being rolled out to deal with disruption caused by European reactions to the coronavirus variant in the UK.

Although, as we were reminded in the questioning, the trade negotiations rumble on and those plans could be deployed again for their post-Brexit purpose in just a couple of weeks' time.

In terms of solving the immediate issue and resuming usual service across the Channel, the prime minister appeared quite upbeat - even putting a timescale of "the next few hours" on resolving the situation.

What will now be key is seeing if the reality can match that optimism.

Rachel from Kent asks if the PM will consider rolling out the vaccine more widely and to more age groups - given the new fast-spreading coronavirus variant.

Boris Johnson says it is "sensible" to stick to the plan of beginning vaccinations with those who are particularly vulnerable.

BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg asked the PM at the press conference how confident he is about getting delays through Dover and elsewhere under control.

Boris Johnson says he had an "excellent" conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, who was keen to get the situation sorted out "in a few hours" if possible.

Sir Patrick Vallance says the new coronavirus variant exists, to some extent, in all parts of the country. But people should "stay local" to prevent its spread, he argues.