Tunnel vision required to name Crossrail diggers (it can't be Doug)

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Tunnelling tradition dictates the £10 million, 1,000-ton machines cannot start work until they have been named after women.

A 20-strong shortlist, inspired by a range of themes from the monarchy to literature and soaps, has been finalised from almost 2,500 suggestions.

It include queens' names Victoria and Elizabeth, as well as Betsy and Dora from David Copperfield by Charles Dickens and EastEnders characters Peggy - played by Barbara Windsor - and Pat.

The public are invited to vote for their favourite pair, which will be painted on the machines before they go underground in spring.

Voting at crossrail.co.uk/tunnel-comp closes on February 29.

Programme director Andy Mitchell said: "We've already received a fantastic response."