RIVAL ferry companies are pulling together to shift the backlog of cross-Channel freight caught in Operation Stack – but with limited capacity.

Freight and passenger ferry services P&O and Norfolk Line say they are running to busting point as they attempt to ship hundreds of lorries stuck on the M20 to their destinations, while SeaFrance staff continue to strike over their salaries.

Today marks the ninth day since Operation Stack was implemented because of French industrial action and more than 1,200 lorries are currently queueing between junctions 8 and 9 as they wait to cross to the Channel.

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P&O normally refit their ships at this usually quiet time of year, but were fortunate to have already taken on an extra freight ship before Stack was implemented, and have been able to pick up much of the extra traffic, on top of their regular business.

Norfolk Line, which sales from Dover to Dunkerque, said it was running its normal scheduled services and were trying to "fill the ships and turn them over as quickly as possible".

Both operators are running to capacity with all their available ships, but cannot put on any extra crossings without extra vessels.

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A P&O spokesman said: "We are lucky that we had an extra freight ship with us, which means we can try and carry on a normal operation.

"We have an agreement with SeaFrance that if they are unable to operate, we will pick up their customers, but even with the best will in the world, we will not be able to take on all of SeaFrance's customers."

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She added: "We want to see the industrial action end. This is not about getting more customers – no one wants Operation Stack to carry on, because it affects all of us and our customers.

"At the moment, we are just focused on getting people across the Channel, as that is the most important thing."