The French government has started dismantling a refugee camp, nicknamed ‘Jungle’, on the outskirts of the country's northern port city of Calais, using bulldozers.

According to reports, two bulldozers and around 20 workers on Monday began destroying makeshift shacks, with 30 police cars and two anti-riot vans stationed nearby.

"We are carrying out our orders so that the refugees leave the camp and we will continue this work this morning," said Fabienne Buccio, a top official in France's Calais region.

She added that three-quarters of the shacks in the southern half of the camp had been evacuated earlier before forcing the refugees to leave.

The move reportedly led to clashes between police and the refugees, with one person arrested for trying to stop demolition crews from clearing the site.

Sources said police fired tear gas as the refugees kept pelting stones and three makeshift shelters were set ablaze.

Jungle camp, a grim shanty town in the port city of Calais, northern France, houses some 3,000 refugees and asylum seekers gathered in the hope of reaching Britain.