Lorry drivers with negative Covid tests CAN enter France tomorrow

Officials performed as few as 200 tests an hour in Kent today, sparking fears the gridlock that has dominated the county all week, and seen 10,000 truckers stranded, could last for days. Military personnel helping to take samples from drivers parked in the Port of Dover in Kent in a bid to get them moving again The Army has been drafted in to help this evening after as few as 200 tests an hour were carried out earlier today in Kent It is not known how many tests the Army is looking to carry out per hour but sources say it will be a 'relentless operation' A man is detained by police officers after a scuffle at the Port of Dover as tensions continue to boil over following the French travel ban Police make an arrest at entrance to the Port of Dover, which is blocked by police as vehicles queue to be allowed to leave Several police officers surround a man who is put in handcuffs at the Port of Dover where tensions have boiled over today Police spoke to frustrated truck drivers this evening amid a large testing programme to try and get them back on the road Cars drive towards check-in at the Port of Dover in Kent, after French authorities announced that journeys from the UK will be allowed to resume after the coronavirus ban was lifted, but those seeking to travel must have a negative test result A Test and Trace worker wearing PPE talks to a van driver at the Port of Dover earlier this evening in a bid to get traffic moving Vehicles lined up this evening at a check point close to the entrance to the Port of Dover, where thousands are looking to head Officials talk to drivers as testing commences at the Port of Dover with the aim of getting traffic moving over the Channel Staff members wearing hi-vis jackets and visors talk to drivers as testing gets underway at the Port of Dover this evening Testing has begun at the Port of Dover after a deal was finally struck between French and British officials late last night A further test site was this afternoon being set up at the entrance to the Port of Dover, although the junction was blocked by vans and cars with some even parked in the wrong direction Testers prepare to take samples from drivers parked in the Port of Dover in Kent after French authorities announced that the coronavirus ban was lifted and journeys from the UK will be allowed to resume Cllr Gough said tensions between police and drivers had calmed down but added the situation remained 'quite fragile'. Officials also confirmed there were no testing facilities at the port itself Freight lorries lined up in Manston Airport in Kent as drivers wait to get tested for coronavirus this afternoon Dark clouds loom over thousands of lorries parked up at Manston airfield in Kent, waiting to be given the green light to continue their journey over the Channel Truckers remove traffic cones before clashing with police outside Manston Airport in Kent this morning Hundreds of angry truckers have blockaded the A299 at Manston Airport in Kent this morning in a mass protest Freight lorries lined up in Manston today after the French announced that journeys from the UK will be allowed to resume Angry truckers speak to police amid chaotic scenes at the A299 at Manston Airport in Kent this morning Lorry drivers carry out a mass protest at the A299 at Manston Airport in Kent this morning as the chaos continues Chaos at Manston Airport in Kent this morning where the Covid testing station has been set up for the truckers Those who come back negative will be told by text message in as little as 20 minutes, and be given the green light to travel, but positive cases will get a PCR test - and if they are still positive, sent to a Covid-secure hotel to isolate. Drivers stand with their HGV freight lorries blocking the entrance as they to enter the Port of Dover in Kent this afternoon Police deal with a man lying on the road in front a freight lorry as it tries to leave the Port of Dover in Kent this afternoon One driver laid down on the ground to stop a freight lorry which had come off a ferry from Calais from leaving Dover today Traffic blocks the roads around the Port of Dover in Kent this morning after the border was reopened by the French Lorry drivers remonstrate with each other outside the entrance to the Port of Dover in Kent this afternoon Scuffles outside the Port of Dover this afternoon as lorry drivers protest outside the entrance after a 48-hour shutdown Lorry drivers play with a ball in the road leading to the entrance to the Port of Dover in Kent this afternoon Vehicles wait at the entrance to the Port of Dover which has been blocked by police as they queue to be allowed to leave today Police hold back drivers trying to enter the Port of Dover today after French authorities announced that the coronavirus ban was lifted and journeys from the UK will be allowed to resume, but that those seeking to travel must have a negative test result Police officers stand guard next to the White Cliffs of Dover this morning at the entrance to the Port of Dover in Kent Police hold back crowds of lorry drivers at the Port of Dover in Kent today after it re-opens following a 48-hour shutdown Emil Herkt, 26, from Tczew in Poland had delivered a consignment of metal to a warehouse in London on Sunday and been stranded in Britain ever since. Lorry drivers hold up their arms as they tussle with police at the entrance to the Port of Dover in Kent this afternoon Police officers patrol in front of queues of vans and lorries at the Port of Dover in Kent this afternoon Waiting lorry drivers cook in the back of a trailer at the entrance to the Port of Dover in Kent this afternoon A man speaks to a police officer at the Port of Dover in Kent this morning with thousands of lorry drivers stranded Lorry drivers are stopped by police officers at the Port of Dover in Kent this morning as the chaotic scenes continue Police hold back drivers trying to enter the Port of Dover in Kent this morning after France lifted the travel ban The Port of Dover in Kent is seen empty this morning despite the UK and France agreeing a protocol to reopen the border Lorry drivers remonstrate with police officers as they ask for Covid-19 tests to be brought to them at the Port of Dover today Lorry drivers wait at the Port of Dover in Kent this morning amid chaotic scenes witnessed across the county today Lorries are parked on M20 motorway near Ashford this morning as the chaotic scenes on the roads in Kent continue Police hold back drivers trying to enter the port in Kent today after French authorities announced that the ban was lifted Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick told Sky News today: 'We have had productive discussions over the last 24 to 48 hours, they have reached what seems like a sensible way forwards.