VOLUNTEERS from Oxford who joined a convoy taking aid to Calais in France have described how they were turned away by border authorities at Dover.

"It is absolutely scandalous", Unite representative Pat Carmody told the Oxford Mail this afternoon.

"There are about 4,000 people who have fled war-torn places and are being forced to live in squalid conditions.

"We had about 250 vehicles and a lorry full of aid but police were refusing to let us board the ferry."

The 51-year-old said protesters staged a demonstration at border checkpoints, delaying a ferry service for at least two hours this morning.

They are now heading to the French Embassy in London to stage a separate protest there, Mr Carmody added.

The convoy was arranged ahead of World Refugee Day on Monday by campaign groups including the People's Assembly and Stop the War Coalition. It left London on Saturday morning before being prevented from boarding ferries to Calais by French authorities.

Seven of the vehicles were from Oxford, Mr Carmody said. Campaigners were told they could not travel to France because of heightened security.

But they had been organising the convoy for around six months and accused Kent Police of colluding with their French counterparts to prevent them from crossing. Aid that was not delivered today is to be stored in a warehouse and kept for future deliveries.

A spokesman for Kent Police said: "Kent Police has received notification from the French authorities that they have taken a decision to refuse the convoy entry to France.

Oxford Mail:

  • People chanted and held signs at an impromptu rally in Dover, Kent. Picture: Steve Sweeney/People's Assembly/PA Wire 

"No agency within the United Kingdom has any grounds to challenge this decision. The refusal of entry to France is a matter for the French authorities.

"Kent Police is working with partner agencies in planning a policing response to minimise any disruption to the community, businesses and the public."

A port official at Dover said there was some "temporary disruption and delays" to services caused by the protest.

In a statement the prefecture of Pas-de-Calais cited a number of reasons for issuing the ban, including the potential for it to "generate violent episodes" and the lack of police officers available because of the ongoing European Championships.

They also said the numbers of vehicles involved may "facilitate the intrusion of migrants".

It added: "In these circumstances, the Prefect of Pas-de-Calais considered only the prohibition of any event is likely to effectively prevent public disorders that may occur.

"Moreover, any convoy on roads and highways, from Great Britain to Calais to slow or block the flow and constituting a public event, is prohibited."