Thousands spend night trapped in Channel Tunnel

More than 2,000 people spent the night trapped inside the Channel Tunnel after four Eurostar trains broke down due to wintry weather.

It is thought the trains failed as they left the cold air in northern France and entered the warmer air inside the tunnel, Eurostar spokesman Bram Smets said.

The exhausted passengers are now on their way home, hours later than expected, but the tunnel remains closed.

Hundreds of people are stuck in France waiting for services to resume and many others are waiting in Folkestone.

Anyone with tickets for crossings today has been asked to postpone their trip unless it is absolutely necessary.

The tunnel closure had added to travel problems caused by heavy snow in Kent and police have brought in Operation Stack - which allows lorries to park along sections of the M20 - to ease congestion near the terminal.

Two of the stranded trains have been moved from the tunnel and are being pushed to London St Pancras by diesel locomotives.

Passengers from a third were evacuated from the stricken train by Eurotunnel shuttle and later transferred to a Eurostar train bound for St Pancras.

Hundreds of people on the fourth train were taken by shuttle to the terminal in France.

A second shuttle will bring them back to Folkestone where they will transfer to a London-bound Eurostar.