Some news from Kent

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Two major measures to avoid HGV congestion after Brexit are being removed in the coming days.

The first to go will be the Kent Access Permit, a document that ensured all lorry drivers had the correct paperwork to cross the border.

Legally-required by all heavy goods drivers entering the county, as of today they will not be needed.

The second scheme to be removed is the M20 contraflow system, with work beginning on Saturday
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Ferry news

A new freight service is to be launched between Kent and France, creating around 100 jobs.

Ferry operator DFDS says the new freight-only service will start operating between Sheerness and Calais from June.

It will offer one daily sailing in each direction between the two ports on ship Gothia, which can carry up to 165 unaccompanied freight units - which are trailers or containers without drivers.

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A leading union has hit out at plans for Irish Ferries to run a Dover to Calais service later this year - accusing it of having "an appalling safety record" and crewing its vessels "almost entirely with eastern European seafarers".

The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) says it fears for jobs and the local economy could be at risk when the cross-Channel service launched in June.