Tory government tells EU that Royal Navy will be sent in to protect UK waters from European fishing vessels

The government's fishing minister has warned the EU that the UK has taken "sufficient" steps to protect its waters after Brexit, as fears grow of a French blockade. The Royal Navy boasts three extra vessels, the Home Office will provide a further four and the government can call in help from the private sector, George Eustice said. A new control centre has been launched, 50 extra fishery protection officers have been recruited and there will be "aerial surveillance", a House of Lords inquiry was told. "We have significantly increased our enforcement capability," Mr Eustice said, adding: "We think that is sufficient." The extra muscle was set out after the controversy of access for EU boats emerged as key dispute in the post-Brexit trade talks, with Brussels demanding an agreement by the end of June. Ministers have reportedly been told of a "nightmare" scenario, where French fishermen blockade ports and paralyse cross-Channel trade at the end of the year.