HIGH winds were this afternoon disrupting operations at Britain's biggest port.

Richard Cornwell

HIGH winds were this afternoon disrupting operations at Britain's biggest port.

As wind speeds hit 45mph, rail and container yard work was stopped at Felixstowe because of the danger to crane drivers.

The port warned yesterday that blustery winds were likely to cause some problems today - and Operation Stack could not be used because of the Suffolk Show traffic.

The junction off the A14 Seven Hills interchange to and from the county show at Trinity Park is extremely busy and hundreds of trucks needing to be parked on the old A45 would just add to the congestion.

A port spokesman said: “We are currently experiencing wind speeds in excess of our safe working limits.

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

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

In order to keep congestion to a minimum, the port has already reduced the number of vehicle bookings today between noon and 7pm by 60 per cent.

It is hoping that other drivers en route will also delay their journeys.

“As the forecast is hovering around our safe working limits, gate opening times will vary during the course of the afternoon,” said the spokesman.

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.