Eurotunnel is putting emergency plans into place to cope with threatened strike action by French employees over this bank holiday weekend.
French unions are demanding a pay rise of 8% or will call a stoppage.
The cross channel rail link has suspended sales of tickets for the bank holiday period in light of the strike threat.
More than 25,000 vehicles, carrying around 100,000 people, are expected to use the service over the three days.
Eurotunnel says it hopes to rely on its British drivers to run services as usual, but has suspended extra ticket sales to ease the situation.
SeaFrance and DFDS Seaways (formerly Norfolkline) have both issued statements urging those wishing to avoid any disruption to book with them as early as possible because capacity is already tight.
SeaFrance Dover-Calais Ferries will be operating an additional 16 crossings for both car and freight traffic due to a huge surge in demand.
The ferry operator is also advising customers to use the M2/A2 route to the Port of Dover to avoid potential delays as a result of the Eurotunnel strike.
by Bev Fearis
