Eurotunnel sends £29m bill for hit from migrant crisis

Eurotunnel has sent a €29 million (£23 million) bill to the British and French governments to cover the costs and revenues lost because of the migrant crisis in Calais last year.

In the first half of the year Eurotunnel had put in a claim for €11 million, much of which was to cover the costs of extra security and fencing at its Coquelles terminal in France.

In the second half the bill jumped to €18 million, even though the two governments then took over responsibility and the costs of completing the extra 37 kilometres of fencing, another 500 cameras and 1000 lights.

“In the second half the majority of the claim is for lost revenues and the provision of extra staff, particularly in security,” said a spokesman for Eurotunnel.

“Once the final piece of the fence was completed in mid-October it all changed. We have not had a single disruption since then and November and December saw record months for truck traffic.”