Talks To Be Held Over 'Scallop Wars'

Scottish scallop dredger, Honeybourne 3, following clashes with French fishermen in the early hours of Tuesday morning in the English Channel (Image: PA).

Talks between British and French officials will be held in London on Wednesday to find a resolution to the so-called “scallop wars”.

It follows reports that they bumped boats and some French sailors were accused of throwing stones and smoke bombs at English and Scottish vessels, just off the French coast.

The Government says it has no plans to send in Royal Navy vessels to assist.

But the French Government says the country's Navy is ready to intervene to prevent further clashes.

Agriculture Minister George Eustice is expected to be quizzed about the issue when he appears before the Commons Environment Committee.

The clashes occurred in a scallop-rich area known as the Baie de Somme, off the coast of Normandy:

National regulations allow British ships to fish legally in the area all year round but French fishermen are banned from taking the molluscs between May 15 and October 1 to conserve stocks.