British (veterinarians) have been forced to chase lorries down the motorway on their way to Dover due to the “pure hell” of Brexit paperwork needed by inspectors in Calais, MPs have been told.

Toby Ovens of Broughton Transport told the business and trade committee that Brexit has been a costly and logistic nightmare, and hopes of a reset with the EU represented “light at the end of the tunnel”.

Brandishing a wad of paperwork with 26 stamps compared with one sheet needed before Brexit, Ovens criticised the post-Brexit bureaucracy he faced when shipping lamb and beef to the continent.

Liam Byrne, chair of the committee, opened the evidence session by telling witnesses that red tape was costing the UK an extra £8.4bn.

"Goods trade is down 18% on five years ago, food and drink down 24%,” he said.