A border checkpoint was jammed with dozens of vehicles as Cambodian workers in Thailand scrambled to return to their home country.

More than 40 freight trucks and private cars were blocked from passing through the Ban Hat Lek checkpoint in Trat province after the Thai military sealed the border on June 24.

The traffic jam lasted for hours before authorities allowed Thai vehicles to cross over at 11 am. Hundreds of Cambodians clogged the checkpoint as they waited for their travel documents to be processed.

Cambodian fisherman Gap, 34, who works at a pier in Thailand, said: 'After the government announced the border would be closed, my family were scared things might get worse, so we packed up and headed back to Cambodia.

'I've been working in Thailand for three years and the pay is much better than back home. I really don't want the situation to escalate. If things calm down, I'll definitely come back to work here.'

Thai truck driver Thani Kreuanan, 47, said he was stranded in Cambodia after delivering goods to grocery stores along the border.

He said: 'I was stuck at the checkpoint for half the day this morning. If both governments want to argue, let them argue, but don't drag the villagers into it who are only trying to make a living.

'There are still some cars stuck on the Cambodian side, but not as many. They will all probably be able to cross the border by today.'

The border closures followed a series of retaliatory bans enforced by both sides in recent weeks. Cambodia has banned fuel, gas, and agricultural imports, and cut internet bandwidth from Thailand.

Thailand has responded by imposing stricter border controls, blocking almost all travellers from crossing into Cambodia and stifling its neighbour's lucrative border casinos. Only students and emergency patiets were allowed to pass the border.

Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia escalated after a clash between troops from both countries in a disputed area in Nam Yuen district, Ubon Ratchathani, on May 28, resulting in the death of a Cambodian sergeant.

Thailand expressed its intention to resolve the dispute through existing bilateral mechanisms.

However, Cambodia vowed to take the case before the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and current Prime Minister Hun Manet claimed that the disputed area belongs to Cambodia.

But Thailand maintained that the area is a no-man's land within an un-demarcated zone.