Irish hauliers stranded by French blockade

Hundreds of Irish hauliers are stranded in France after French lorry drivers blocked channel ports when talks for better pay and conditions collapsed.

Unions representing French workers are demanding an extra month's salary per year and a reduction in working hours of 10%. The dispute could last for weeks.

Jimmy Quinn of the Irish Road Hauliers' Association, said: "It's the wrong time of the year for everybody. This time of the year, the transport business swings into gear to cater for the Christmas rush.

"It will make things very, very awkward for us and it's really very frustrating to think the French can't think of a more civilised way to iron out their problems than to bring Europe to a halt periodically every two or three years.

"It's getting a bit monotonous."

Meanwhile, holidaymakers will also be affected today when French air traffic controllers begin a 32-hour work stoppage at 6pm.

Ryanair and Aer Lingus are assessing the situation with a view to putting contingencies in place.