Eurotunnel carried more traffic than expected in October despite restricted services caused by fire damage.

The Channel Tunnel operator reported that 5,676 missions - truck and passenger shuttles, Eurostar and goods trains - operated during the month, more than 60 per cent of its average monthly operations in 2007.

It claimed the performance "exceeded expectations", with shuttle services achieving record load factors. Freight shuttles achieved 90 per cent compared to 75 per cent in 2007.

Eurotunnel also notched up a milestone by carrying its 14 millionth truck since the service began in July 1994. It said that if they were placed end to end, the 14 million trucks would stretch two-thirds of the way to the moon.

Jacques Gounon, chairman and chief executive, said Eurotunnel continued to teansport an impressive number of vehicles and passengers every day.

"The Group thanks its customers for their loyalty and assures them that it is constantly working to improve," he said.

A lorry fire on September 11 seriously disrupted operations and a 650-metre stretch of tunnel is undergoing repair. It is not yet known when the work will be completed and normal services resumed.