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Xavier Bertrand warns French PM the risk was 'very real'

CALAIS could again descend into violence this summer as migrants try to get into Britain, a French official has warned.

Xavier Bertrand, the president of Hauts-de-France region, wrote to the new Prime Minster of France warning that something must be done to combat people trying to get into the UK.

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In a letter to Edouard Philippe, seen by the Daily Express, Mr Bertrand said: The situation has become worrisome again. I am regularly alerted by road hauliers who are seeing an upsurge of degradation on their trucks.

Every day residents, elected officials and business leaders express their concerns about the return of migrants to Calais.

The risk is very real the security forces are not able to prevent migrants present near Calais to prepare their attempts to intrude in the port or tunnel in order to reach the UK.

The letter comes after the UKs shipping chief warned Emmanuel Macron that his plan to move Britains border from Calais would cause chaos for travellers in Dover.

The new French President wants to scrapthe current border deal but yesterday the PM insisted it was not up for negotiation.

Theresa May said she would be sitting down and talking to Monsieur Macron about how the so-called Le Touquet system worked and would stress that it works for the benefit of both the UK and France.

Her comments sparked fears it could be scrapped but her aides insisted she would make clear that the border deal is not up for discussion.

The treaty, which was signed in 2003, lets British officials carry out checks on the French side of the channel.

PA:Press Association

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Today the CEO of the UK Chamber of Shipping warned that cancelling the treatywould mean extra checks at BOTH sides of the Channel which would be a nightmare for travellers.

Guy Platten told The Sun Online thatthis would lead to chaos at Dover and Calais with lengthy queues for travellers and lorries carrying cargo.

He said: Anything which requires additional checking will cause a blockage. If you are stopping every car, stopping it all go in, you will cause delays.

All you will do is cause two lots of checks to be carried out, and massive delays.I cant see any upside.

He warned against reports today that said in the event the agreement is scrapped, ferry companies would be made responsible for stopping migrants from crossing into Britain, and expressed his concerns around the legality of such a move.

Mr Platten, who represents 170 members of the shipping industry, said: If ferry operators were required to check every lorry for illegal immigrants before embarkation, then voyage delays will see colossal queues of cars and lorries.

The move would affect Calais and Dunkirk just as much as Dover, he stressed.

The news comes after just a month ago Mr Platten reassured Brits that they would be unlikely to face further checks after Britain quits the EU.

AP:Associated Press

The new French President said back in March that France can no longer be Britains coast guard and he wanted to put the agreement back on the table.

Migrants trying to get into the UK illegally are turned back at Calais which sparked camps being set up there as Europes immigration issues spiralled over the past few years.

There are serious concerns that scrapping the agreement would entice more to try and make the dangerous crossing if they thought they may be able to reach our shores.

It would be a complete mess, Mr Platten argued. It seems to be that [for Macron] its a very nice election slogan, but its impractical.

Its not going to achieve anything but increased delays. Nice soundbite, but Im not sure it will stand the test of time.

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There are also fears that Macrons landslide win in France will affect our Brexit negotiations.

The 39-year-old previously appeared to row back on comments that he wanted a hard Brexit.

But thenewly elected French leader will be tough in the talks about to start, they warned.

And hewill soon begin his plan to attract London bankers to Paris after Brexit.

Analysts speculated France could try to nick up to 20,000 workers from Britain.v

The PM previously slammed Macron when he called for an exodus of bankers from the UK to Paris from the doorstep of No10 earlier this year.

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Calais migrant crisis 'could return this summer' warns French ... - The Sun