Kent summit on Operation Stack M20 motorway congestion

Lorries queued on the M20 in Kent during last December's cold weather

Solutions to the long-running problem of traffic congestion on the M20 in Kent are being explored at a summit.

Officials are meeting to debate Operation Stack, under which lorries waiting to cross the Channel on ferries park on the motorway.

It leads to congestion when there are delays at Channel ports.

Damian Collins, the Conservative MP for Folkestone and Hythe, said the problem had never been satisfactorily addressed.

'Serious proposals'

Mr Collins, who is hosting the meeting with his colleague, Dover MP Charlie Elphicke, added: "While this is a difficult subject to tackle, I hope we can come up with some serious and workable proposals."

Kent Police and officials from Shepway, Dover, Ashford and Kent councils are taking part in the meeting.

They are joined by officials from the Port of Dover, ferry operators, Eurotunnel, the Highways Agency and Kent Fire and Rescue Service.

The meeting is taking place at the civic centre in Folkestone.