The Gibraltar authorities has accused Spain of instantly introducing stricter border measures "without warning" – bringing the crossing to a standstill on the top of vacation season. It has promised to retaliate with its personal tighter controls.

The tit-for-tat was sparked when Spanish border police elevated scanning of passports and different ID paperwork, in accordance with Gibraltar authorities.

The adjustments reportedly triggered critical delays on the border crossing which prompted Gibraltar to warn it will reply in related methods if Madrid didn't give a passable clarification.

On Friday, the British Overseas Territory claimed the Spanish border power had "without prior warning, initiated a new passport control regime".

It added: "This, together with higher numbers of people crossing the border at the height of the summer tourist season, has caused lengthy queues and considerable inconvenience to thousands of people coming into Gibraltar, the vast majority of whom are actually Spanish."

For greater than two years, the UK and Spain have been in stagnant talks aimed toward discovering an settlement on the motion of products and other people out and in of Gibraltar after Brexit.

The frontier between Spain and Gibraltar must be a tough border with plenty of checks however each governments say they need to maintain fluid motion, particularly for 10,000 Spanish staff who enter the Rock every day.

Responding to Gibraltar’s claims, Spain says it has not turned its again on its want for a fluid border.

"There has been no change or alteration in the rules or procedures that underpin the checking of documents to enter or leave Spain," a spokesman for Spain’s inside ministry instructed the Telegraph.

In its assertion, Gibraltar mentioned if Spain continued to decelerate motion on the border, it will enhance checks on Spanish staff’ ID playing cards as they enter the territory.