By Vin Shahrestani 5 SEPTEMBER 2016 • 11:48AM

How Calais has become a battleground for lorry drivers and migrants

The French border town of Calais finds itself as one of the epicentres of Europe's migration crisis, as thousands of migrants and refugees have clustered in the area as they attempt to illegally cross the Channel into the UK.

Lorries have become key targets for migrants in their struggle to smuggle themselves out of France.

Some lorry drivers have posted videos of migrants blocking roads and attacking trucks with debris in a desperate attempt to stop the vehicles long enough to jump aboard.

The dangerous tactics used often puts the lives of migrants and drivers in danger. Seven migrants have been killed on the road this year.

As well as the threats faced by violent gangs of migrants, lorry drivers also face harsh penalties if they are discovered to be ferrying in stowaways into the UK, with fines as high as £2,000 per migrant.

As tensions between Lorry drivers and migrants increase, so does the migrant population in Calais.

The French says about 7,000 migrants live in camps near Calais, up from 4,500 in June. Humanitarian groups put the number closer to 9,000.

How Calais has become a battleground for lorry drivers and migrants