PORT chiefs expect Britain’s busiest container terminal to remain closed until at least midnight as strong blustery winds continue to hammer the county’s coast.

Hundreds of lorries have been parked up on the old A45 at Levington as part of Operation Stack, and hauliers have been sent messages urguing them not to let their trucks travel to Felixstowe until the wind drops.

Once the port re-opens, quayside workers will have to process all the lorries parked up on the port before those from Operation Stack can be gradually released to drive to the terminal.

It will take some hours to clear the backlog before normal operations can resume.

The port closes when winds are above 45mph because of the danger to crane drivers.

A port spokesman said the winds were expected to carry on above safe working levels until midnight.

“Rail and yard operations have been affected and, for the safety of all port users, we are currently restricting access to operational areas,” he said.

“Vehicles are being marshalled on site and will be processed through to operational areas as soon as it is safe to do so.

“Due to the above some delays to hauliers are likely and customers may wish to consider re-scheduling their arrivals.”

The port can park about 300 vehicles on site and others can go their yards around the outside of the port complex.

When Operation Stack is in place, vehicles are sent to park up on the old A45 and then given a ticket to give them entry to the port when it re-opens.