CAMPAIGNERS from Southampton were part of an aid convoy refused entry to France.

The convoy of around 250 vehicles organised by a number of campaign groups including the People's Assembly and Stop the War Coalition, were prevented from boarding the ferries to Calais on Saturday due to 'security reasons'.

An impromptu rally was started with people chanting and holding signs saying "refugees welcome" and "solidarity with refugees".

Hours of rallying at the port saw no avail until finally the largest truck full of aid was granted access to the ferry Secretary for the Southampton People's Assembly Helen Field said: "We decided to go to the actual border to protest and we were met by a line of police.

"We were not looking for trouble but we wanted to be allowed access.

"Finally our big truck was allowed through but we really wanted all of us to cross the border.

"The Secretary of the Peoples Assembly was very good and spoke to the French officials, that's when they came up with the plan of taking the food to the French Embassy."

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell tweeted in support of the convoy, posting: "Sending solidarity to @pplsassembly #ConvoytoCalais. As @HackneyAbbott said 'a beacon of hope at the end of a dark week'."

A spokesman for the People's Assembly, Steve Sweeney, said he was told that the group were prevented from travelling due to heightened security in France.

He said 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.

"The Kent police were taking down our number plates when we stopped on the way here. We're now holding a rally."

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.

"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."

Mr Sweeney later said the convoy had left Dover and was travelling to protest outside the French embassy in London.