The UK freight industry has called for top-level meetings with ferry operators and Eurotunnel over claims about price-fixing on cross-Channel routes.

The British International Freight Association said it was writing to P&O Stena Line, Seafrance and Eurotunnel following complaints from several members about new-year price rises.

The association plans to complain to the Office of Fair Trading if it is not happy with their replies.

The complaint is based on the closeness of the rises – between €29.50- €31.50 (£18.08-£19.30) per unit – and claims the three operators refused to negotiate.