UK-France border reopens following coronavirus travel ban

Nearly 3,000 lorries have been stuck in Kent since the border shut on Sunday

Some travel can go on between the UK and France, after a deal has been done to allow some people to cross the Channel.

The French government has agreed to ease its travel ban and allow trucks queuing at UK ports to cross into France, but more than 50 countries have still suspended flights to and from the UK to try and limit the spread of the new variant of coronavirus.

The French travel ban was imposed on Sunday, with travellers and lorries stuck at UK ports unable to enter France, although trucks coming into UK from France were still allowed.

From Wednesday morning French citizens, British nationals who live in France, and delivery drivers are now able to travel if they received a negative test result less than 72 hours before departure.

Lorry drivers will have to prove they have tested negative for coronavirus before travelling

As a result, soldiers have joined NHS Test and Trace staff in Kent to carry out rapid tests on stranded lorry drivers wanting to cross into France, using tests that can give a result in about 30 minutes.

Freight drivers will receive their test result by text, and a negative result gives them the right to cross the Channel.

Testing will also take place on the French side for lorry drivers entering the UK.

Eurotunnel said around 150 passenger vehicles had crossed the Channel overnight, carrying people who had had negative tests.

The Netherlands and Belgium have also relaxed bans on arrivals from the UK, as long as they have a recent negative result.

But the Netherlands has demanded UK travellers take a specific type of test, called a PCR test, which can take over 24 hours to get a result.

What about other travellers?

More than 50 countries are still banning travellers from the UK because of concerns about the spread of a new type of coronavirus.

On Saturday 19 December the UK government warned of a new, fast-spreading variant of coronavirus and introduced strict tier four - "stay at home"

The new strain, known as a 'variant', seems to spread faster between people, but doesn't appear to make those who catch it more sick.

News of the coronavirus variant meant many countries, including Spain, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Ireland, Turkey, India and Canada, suspended UK flights.

However, Switzerland will allow flights to Britain to resume on Thursday and Bulgaria will permitting flights from the UK from Wednesday but travellers will be tested for the virus and will have to observe a 10-day quarantine if they test positive.

Will we run out of food?

No, but there might be a delay on new supplies of certain brands or items.

The Channel is an important trade route, with about 10,000 lorries a day travelling between Dover and Calais at Christmas, largely bringing in the freshest produce.

Supermarkets have been warning that the travel ban and delays at ports could see shortages of certain fresh foods, including lettuces and citrus fruits coming from the Continent.

Sainsbury's said all of its Christmas dinner products were "already in the country and we have plenty of these".

However, adults in Britain have been told not to panic buy supplies of food or products following the border closure.

Freight industry group Logistics UK, which oversees lots of transport of goods, asked for calm from shoppers, and said it was "maintaining close contact with UK government to ensure that supplies of fresh produce are available throughout Christmas and the new year".

What about vaccine supplies?

The UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps says that the UK's coronavirus vaccine supplies won't be affected by the travel bans, as they come to the UK via unaccompanied containers that can still be transported.

"It comes via containers and the container traffic isn't affected at all, so this isn't an issue with the vaccine at all and indeed will never be an issue for medicines regardless because we have freight contingencies in place," he said.

What does it mean for Brexit?

Freight lorries are seen queuing as they wait to enter the port of Dover earlier this month

A decision on whether the UK and EU can come up with a Brexit deal currently has a final deadline of 31 December.

The government has ruled out extending the deadline despite a deadlock in talks and the problems caused by the new Covid variant.

UK-EU talks continue, with just over a week left to reach any agreement.