Eurotunnel safety row

Eurotunnel is to be challenged at an industrial tribunal over the dismissal of 12 security staff laid off just five days after the Channel Tunnel fire, it was revealed yesterday.

A spokesman for the Transport union, which is calling for reinstatement, said: "When the tunnel fully reopens, safety and security will clearly be a matter of great public concern. If Eurotunnel has dismissed their own specialist security staff, where are the trained security workers to come from?

Eurotunnel said the dismissals were part of an overall re-organisation and would not compromise safety.