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Eurotunnel bosses press British and French governments to pay £7m security costs

09:00, 22 July 2015

The operator of the Channel Tunnel has asked the British and French governments to repay nearly £7 million it has spent boosting security - amid claims Operation Stack could soon be brought in.

Eurotunnel says it's only fair the state foots the bill - in the wake of the migrant crisis in Calais.

The Home Office had already agreed to pay for new fencing.

The traffic queue where the incident happened in December last year
The traffic queue where the incident happened in December last year

The company's boss has also warned there could be more disruption in the coming months - with thousands of refugees attempting to make their way from northern France to the UK.

Yet despite its troubles, the business has revealed revenues increased by 9% to £649 million in the first half of this year.

Bosses were speaking as the M20 coastbound entry slip road was shut due to lorries queueing for the Eurotunnel at J11 for the B2068 at Hythe.

There is now no access onto the M20 from J11, as it is blocked by the queue of lorries for the Channel Tunnel at J11a.

There is a long backlog of lorries trying to cross the Channel after problems at the Channel Tunnel overnight.

Freight traffic queues to enter the Channel Tunnel. Picture: Gary Browne
Freight traffic queues to enter the Channel Tunnel. Picture: Gary Browne

Meanwhile, there is a waiting time of up to two hours on the freight Eurotunnel service at Folkestone due to an earlier incident on the terminal.

Passenger services are not affected.

Operation Stack is being implemented today, as the roads situation worsens.

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