Tunnel reopens for business after fire

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The tunnel operator said the first freight train set off from England and was followed by an empty shuttle train.

Just one tunnel has reopened, it added, with both truck shuttle and Eurostar trains to operate a limited service.

The tunnel where the fire took place will remain closed while French authorities carry out an investigation into the cause of the blaze, which started on a Folkestone to Calais train around seven miles from the French end.

In a statement, Eurotunnel said: "Having carried out a comprehensive technical inspection of the infrastructure in the south rail tunnel, and having sent empty test shuttles through, Eurotunnel announces that Channel Tunnel traffic resumes."

But passengers hoping to take their cars through the tunnel would have to wait, Eurotunnel said.

"We are giving priority to the truck shuttles and Eurostar passengers. At the moment we don't know when the car shuttles will start again," a spokeswoman said.

The blaze was finally extinguished after hundreds of firefighters fought for hours to bring it under control.

The tunnel's closure caused transport chaos on both sides of the Channel, with dozens of passengers stranded and lorries backed up for hours from Dover and Calais.

Eurostar promised to refund all 60,000 weekend tickets even though Eurotunnel was already suggesting that a limited service might resume.