Eurostar hit by Belgian strike

Christmas travellers will have their getaway plans disrupted by a strike in Belgium on Thursday.

Services between London and Brussels operated by the Channel Tunnel high-speed train company Eurostar will start and finish at Lille in northern France on Thursday.

Eurostar will be supplying a limited coach service to transfer passengers between Lille and Brussels but warned that both stations could get busy.

With the 24-hour strike starting at 9pm UK time on Wednesday, tomorrow's 7.04pm London to Brussels service will also terminate at Lille.

Eurostar said it was recommending passengers affected by the strike to exchange their tickets to travel either before or after Thursday.

The company said it would allow exchanges free of charge regardless of ticket conditions but subject to availability on alternative services.

PA