British holidaymakers are facing queues of up to four hours at airports and in some cases are missing their flights as staff are forced to carry out more stringent checks due to new European Union rules.

Tourists travelling to destinations in the Schengen area, comprising of 26 European states including Portugal, Italy and Spain, have reportedly been met with immigration lines hundreds of metres long this summer.

The fresh EU regulations were introduced following terror attacks in Paris and Brussels and have allegedly created serious problems during the peak holiday season,

The changes mean staff at airports within the Schengen area, which allows passport-free movement for citizens of member states, are required to tighten up their border control procedures.

The issue is compounded by a lack of border officials on the continent, it is claimed.

Pictures on social media in recent days have shown long lines of passengers in crowded terminals.

Thomas Reynaert, managing director of lobby group Airlines For Europe (A4E), said: “Travellers face long lines and can’t get on their flights. Queuing for up to four hours has been the top record these days.

“Airports like Madrid, Palma de Mallorca, Lisbon, Lyon, Paris-Orly, Milan or Brussels are producing shameful pictures of devastated passengers in front of immigration booths, in lines stretching hundreds of metres.

“At some airports, flight delays have increased by 300% compared to last year.”

Have you been affected? Get in touch via the comments sections below or email newsroom@archant.co.uk.

Schengen member states: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland