UK nationals will be able to travel through France if they are heading home to an EU country.

This is despite the tough new rules on travel from the UK announced by France shortly before Christmas, which require people to have a "compelling reason" to travel to France.

The restrictions have been eased following reports UK travellers faced difficulties completing travel to other EU countries.

The alert was raised by Eurotunnel and P&O Ferries earlier this week, who said new French government rules meant Brits could "no longer transit France by road to reach their country of residence in the EU" unless they held French residency.

After the UK government said it was seeking clarification, the French government insisted UK nationals residing in another EU country would be deemed third country nationals, effectively preventing them from transiting.

However, it said "instructions of tolerance" had been issued to border officials and police to allow transit in light of the large number of such travellers who had travelled to the UK for the festive season "in good faith" and who were now struggling to get home.

The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for France to read: "The French authorities confirmed on 30 December that UK nationals who are resident in other EU member states and who have travelled to the UK for the Christmas period will be able to transit France over the new year period in order to return home to their country of residence."