France 'breaking law over refugees'

France is breaking European law by failing to keep asylum seekers out of the Channel Tunnel, Euro-MPs were being told today.

Rail chiefs claim that a shortage of police on the French side is leaving refugees from the Sangatte Red Cross hostel, near Calais, free to beseige the nearby freight depot at Frethun.

Train operator EWS is taking the case to Brussels, with a claim that the French government is breaking its obligation under the Treaty of Rome to ensure free movement of goods between EU countries.

In the past six months, 2,600 freight services through the tunnel have been cancelled due to security alerts. There are 60 gendarmes stationed at Frethun depot but the French ambassador admitted last week that a bungle recently left the terminal unguarded for more than 24 hours.

The trouble at Sangatte has stepped up the pressure on the British government over asylum. Since last year's election, when Labour accused the Tories of being too harsh on asylum seekers, the Government has shifted towards a tougher stance.

Home Secretary David Blunkett is building reception centres to house asylum seekers, and provoked a storm when he said the policy would protect schools from being "swamped" by incomers.

Europe Minister Peter Hain yesterday echoed Tony Blair's call to EU countries to tighten their borders to keep refugees out. But Martin Slade, head of the Immigration Services Union, claimed Britain should be doing more. He claimed there were too few immigration officers and said: "At the moment we've no way of getting rid of the people who aren't genuine refugees."