TWO weeks after a mock terrorism attack was staged in London, the Channel

Tunnel closed to allow emergency services to practise their responses to a

mock disaster.

The tunnel was shut overnight from 11.45pm on Saturday to 6.45am on Sunday

while the drama unfolded.

Fire crews from Ashford, Folkestone, Hythe and Dover spent most of the night

bringing out the "casualties" and helping the French police and ambulance

services.

The exercise was based around a simulated incident in the HGV shuttle of

Eurotunnel and involved a large number of casualties.

Similar practise exercises have been organised every year since the Channel

Tunnel opened in 1994.

A firefighter from Folkestone said: "It was an exercise organised by the

French and was a simulated incident in the Channel Tunnel.

"We were there to assist in removing the alleged 'victims' out from the HGV

section.

"It's a standard exercise they have every year to ensure they can make their

evacuation times."

A spokesman for Kent fire brigade said: "It was a bi-national exercise and

the scale of it means that both the English and the French had to be

involved."