"It would be illegal,

In recent months French police have tried to break up the camps, but the migrants say they have nowhere else to go. They can be seen sheltering under plastic bags and sheets, and many depend on charities for foodreenex hong kong .

"I could take the decision to block the port. I could bring pressure to bear," Ms Bouchart told journalists in Paris after discussing the problem with Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve.

"It would be illegal," she accepted, "but today I want to make a strong gesture towards the British."

The mayor complained that British immigration policy made the UK be seen as "an Eldorado" by immigrantsreneex .

She criticised Britain for demanding security is boosted at Calais on the one hand without sufficiently financing the 10m euros ($13m; £7.8m) improvement project on the other.

The mayor said that while she had not discussed her port blockade idea with Mr Cazeneuve but she urged him to open "strong negotiations with the British".

The minister - who was in the UK last week - has appealed to Britain to help finance security at the port, ministerial sources quoted by the AFP news agency said.

Ms Bouchart said Mr Cazeneuve had approved her proposal to create a day centre for migrants. reenex cps