A new EU digital border system was introduced in October last year, changing the requirements for British citizens travelling to the Schengen area.

The system - known as Entry/Exit System or EES - replaces passport stamping with digitally recorded entries. Those travelling on a UK passport may be required to register biometric details like fingerprints and a photo, the UK Foreign Office explains.

The Port of Dover has said previously it is "working closely" with French border agency partners to "ensure a smooth introduction" for tourist passengers.

But after long delays heading into the bank holiday weekend - seen as a major test of the new system - French authorities suspended the extra checks today after the port escalated the "challenging situation".

As we reported earlier, French authorities had not yet switched on the fingerprint and photo machines, but still had to create profiles for travellers linked to the new system, contributing to delays.

Simon Jones
BBC South East Today

As temperatures rose this morning, so did the waiting times: four and a half hours to get on a ferry at Dover, and three and a half hours for a train at Eurotunnel.

The bank holiday weekend was always going to be busy, but new EU checks - meaning the French police have to create electronic files for each passenger - have been adding to processing times.

By mid-morning, the congestion had got so bad at Dover that the border police decided to suspend the new checks to allow traffic to run more smoothly.

But the port is warning the rest of the day is likely to prove challenging.

Image source, PA Media

Traffic on the roads surrounding the Port of Dover is "slow moving", the port is warning in a new update.

"The surrounding roads are slow moving", it says. "In the tourist check-in plaza and approach lanes, there are queues for all ferry operators."

This follows an update a short while ago, in which the port warned that "the surrounding roads are still very congested, and traffic exiting the port is being directed onto the A2 only".

The port adds that the "processing time for tourist traffic in the Buffer Zone" has now reduced to 45 minutes, when earlier it was 90 minutes.

The Port of Dover describes the Buffer Zone as an area "at the front of the port", where "traffic may be held in multiple lanes" while waiting to pass through French border and security checks.

Separately to the announcement of a suspension of the new EU border checks, the Port of Dover has been issuing other updates for passengers currently waiting.

It says that "if you’ve missed your booked ferry crossing due to current waiting times, your ferry operator will transfer you to the next available sailing free of charge".

The port is also advising passengers to "remain inside your vehicle while in the terminal and stay alert to moving traffic at all times" and follow instructions from staff.

Here’s the update in full, issued by the Port of Dover earlier today:

“Following the Port's active escalation of the challenging situation in Dover with the relevant border authorities, we are pleased that Police Aux Frontieres (PAF) have responded positively by invoking the Article 9 clause of the EES regulations.

"While conventional border checks will still be undertaken, this will now enable PAF to significantly reduce the border processing time.

"We will be working with PAF and all our partners to get customers into and through the port as swiftly as possible and keep the roads clear for our local community.”

Image source, PA Media

French authorities have suspended extra EU border checks at Dover as holidaymakers heading to the port face long queues amid soaring temperatures.

The port says the decision was made after they escalated the "challenging situation" with border authorities, adding it would help to reduce congestion.

The EU biometric border checks, known as the new Entry/Exit System (EES), include British passengers having to have their photo and fingerprints taken to be allowed to enter France.

The EU has been gradually introducing the EES, since October last year.

At Dover, where people go through the French border before they board a cross-Channel ferry, French authorities had not yet switched on the machines that will take fingerprints and photos under EES.

However, border officials still had to create profiles for travellers linked to the new system, meaning it was taking longer to get through border checks.

The May bank holiday is seen as a major test for the new checks, and heavy queues have formed while temperatures have soared.

The processing time within the port fluctuated throughout Saturday morning but travellers continued to face "congested" roads to reach the check-in point.